NDLEA intercepts N6.98bn tramadol shipment at Lagos port, arrests suspects across states

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth more than N6.98 billion at the Apapa port in Lagos, after discovering that a shipment from India, declared as maize starch, contained the controlled drug.

In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the consignment comprised 349 bags, which laboratory analysis confirmed contained tramadol hydrochloride.

Mr Babafemi stated that at the Tincan port, officers also seized 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis valued at N165 million. The substance was concealed in a Toyota Sienna inside a 40-foot container.

Arrests in Lagos

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a store in Idumota and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu. They recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam and 6,500 tablets of Molly, according to the agency.

Two men were arrested in separate operations in Mushin. Idowu Daudu, 35, was found with 59.95 kilogrammes of cannabis, while Ahmed Oniyinde, 35, had 61.23 kilogrammes.

Officers also intercepted a truck travelling from the Trade Fair market along the Iyana Oba axis. A search revealed 18,000 tablets of 250mg tramadol hidden in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

The agency identified the suspects as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.

85-year-old woman among suspects arrested in Edo

In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids conducted between 15 and 16 October in Warake, Ivhiaro, Ewe and Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area.

Grace Ehimeka, 85, was found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis, while Ayo Aigberadion, 53, had 220.8 kilogrammes.

The other suspects were Ali Garba, 57, who was found with 5.852 kilogrammes of cannabis; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with two kilogrammes of cannabis, seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.

Ms Ehimeka’s arrest comes weeks after PREMIUM TIMES reported the rearrest of another elderly woman, Uloma Sunday, 83, in Abia State.

Ms Sunday was arrested on 7 October, months after she and her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, 32, were convicted in a drug-related case.

The pair were arrested in May 2025 after officers recovered 50 grammes of methamphetamine, 522 grammes of cannabis, 260 grammes of fresh cannabis leaves and 12 grammes of tramadol. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. Both paid their fines and were released.

During her latest arrest, Ms Sunday was allegedly found with methamphetamine and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid, concealed around her waist in a wrapper.

The NDLEA said intelligence reports indicated that she operated a drug joint where criminal suspects gathered and terrorised residents. The agency did not state whether she had been charged over the latest seizure.

The cases involving Ms Sunday and Ms Ehimeka are separate. The agency has not linked the two women.

NDLEA destroys cannabis farm in Ondo

In Ondo State, officers destroyed a cannabis farm covering three hectares in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on 17 October. The plants were estimated to weigh 7,500 kilogrammes.

Five suspects were arrested during the operation: Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.

Officers also recovered 92 bags of cannabis weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh cannabis stems. The recovered exhibits weighed 1,281 kilogrammes, separate from the plants destroyed at the farm.

In another operation, officers arrested Okunebe Ndidi, 53, in the Ameyinti area of Owo on 16 October. They recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.

Seizures in Bauchi and Kano

In Bauchi State, officers intercepted Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on 14 October. He was travelling in a Volkswagen Golf wagon carrying 894,800 pills, identified by the agency as tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.

On the same day, officers recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira, along the Bauchi-Gombe road.

In Kano State, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road on 13 October with 30,100 tablets of tramadol, 225mg.

A day later, officers arrested Murtala Dayyabu, 54, on Niger Street in the Malan Kato area with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.

At the airport, a 16-year-old passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested on 16 October while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa.

The agency noted that she was carrying 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil.

Ms Ahmad reportedly told officers that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the substance. He was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

Further arrests in Kaduna and Abuja

In Kaduna State, officers arrested Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, during a raid in Kayimi village. They recovered 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.

At Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road, officers arrested John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol, 225mg.

In Abuja, Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, was arrested in Utako on 17 October with 29,500 tramadol capsules, the agency said.

NDLEA holds anti-drug awareness campaigns

The agency also held awareness programmes under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign at schools and other institutions in several states.

READ ALSO: NDLEA rearrests 83-year-old woman months after drug conviction

The activities took place at Nawar-Ur-Deen High School in Ogboro, Oyo State; Elf Junior Secondary School in Bojude, Gombe State; Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School in Ikorodu, Lagos State; Harmony Secondary School in Lokoja, Kogi State; and Government Secondary School in Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State.

Other sessions were held at Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in Port Harcourt, Mesh International School in Benin City, Edo State, and Abu Hanifa Academy in Kano Municipal.

NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa commended officers involved in the operations, including personnel at the Apapa and Tincan ports, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and the agency’s commands in Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory.

He urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.