NDLEA Seizes ₦6.98bn Tramadol Shipment, Arrests 85-Year-Old Suspect

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of tramadol powder valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos and arrested an 85-year-old woman during separate anti-drug operations across the country.

The agency also intercepted cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, as operatives carried out raids and seizures in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

At Kano airport on Friday, October 16, operatives arrested a passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, during clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa. A gallon of palm oil in her luggage contained 511.75 grammes of cannabis.

Ahmad reportedly told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the gallon. He was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

At Apapa Port, a joint examination conducted with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies uncovered a shipment from India declared as maize starch. Laboratory tests by the NDLEA confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder.

The consignment, separated from its concealment on October 14, comprised 349 bags weighing 8,725 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.

At Tincan Port, operatives on October 12 discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, hidden inside a Toyota Sienna transported in a 40-foot container.

In another Lagos operation, officers raided Idumota Market on October 14 and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.

Two men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were also arrested in Mushin on October 15 with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk, respectively. On the same day, operatives intercepted a truck along Iyana Oba and recovered 18,000 tramadol 250mg pills concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during operations in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16. The suspects included Grace Ehimeka, 85, who was allegedly found with 179kg of skunk in Warake.

Other seizures in the area included 220.8kg of skunk and smaller quantities of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol, diazepam and Loud.

In Ondo State, operatives reportedly recovered 375kg of cannabis from the hideout of 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi in Ameyinti, Owo, on October 16.

In another operation, officers intercepted Shamsu Garba in Bauchi State and recovered 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets from his vehicle. Operatives also recovered 265kg of cannabis from an abandoned car along the Bauchi-Gombe Road.

In Kano State, two suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect, Murtala Dayyabu, was arrested in Malan Kato with 100,000 Exol-5 tablets.

In Kaduna State, three suspects were arrested in Kayimi village with 496.5kg of cannabis, while another man was apprehended at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

In Abuja, operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike at Utako on October 17 with 29,500 tramadol capsules.

The agency also reported raiding a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, where officers destroyed 7,500kg of skunk cultivated on three hectares. Five suspects were arrested, and 1,281kg of cannabis-related exhibits were recovered.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged commands nationwide to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks.

In a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa also called on officers to maintain the agency’s approach to drug control, combining enforcement with public education.