The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol powder valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos and arrested a woman allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis to Saudi Arabia.
The agency said the female suspect, identified as Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
According to the NDLEA, operatives discovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed inside a gallon of palm oil she was carrying.
Ahmad reportedly told officers that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement on Sunday, detailing several anti-drug operations carried out across different states.
At Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working alongside the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, uncovered the tramadol shipment on October 2 during an examination of cargo declared as maize starch.
A confirmatory test conducted at the agency’s forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder. When the shipment was separated from its concealment on October 14, it comprised 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes and an estimated value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
At Tin Can Port, also in Lagos, officers discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle packed in a 40-foot container on October 12.
The agency also reported the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota Market on October 14. Officers allegedly recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
In separate operations in Mushin, Lagos, two men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.
Another operation along Iyana Oba led to the interception of a truck allegedly transporting illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market. The NDLEA said officers discovered 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg hidden in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
The suspects arrested in connection with the operation were identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.
In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.
Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk. Another suspect, 53-year-old Ayo Aigberadion, was allegedly found with 220.8 kilogrammes.
Other suspects were reportedly found with varying quantities of cannabis and other substances, including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land and arresting five suspects.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems. The agency said the total weight of the recovered exhibits was 1,281 kilogrammes.
In another operation in Owo, officers tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to a hideout in Ameyinti on October 16 and recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14. The agency said 894,800 tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets were recovered from 35-year-old Shamsu Garba.
The agency also reported that officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
The seizures and arrests form part of the NDLEA’s ongoing operations against the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.
Source: NDLEA
