The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 2.55 million opioid pills weighing 1,640.55 kilogrammes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in one of its largest drug seizures reported this year.
The agency also arrested several suspects in separate operations across Lagos and Oyo states, recovering cannabis, tramadol, nitrous oxide, and other controlled substances.
NDLEA disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday, September 27, 2026, by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
NDLEA intercepts 2.55 million opioid pills at Lagos airport
According to the agency, operatives uncovered the massive opioid consignment on Tuesday, September 22, during a joint examination of three monitored shipments at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
The seized drugs comprised 2.55 million pills of Tramaking 225mg, Tramaking 250mg, and Royal Tapentadol 250mg, with a combined gross weight of 1,640.55kg.
NDLEA said the consignments originated from India and Bangladesh and were transported into Nigeria through Qatar Airways, RwandAir, and Ethiopian Airlines.
Two Togolese arrested with 305kg cannabis in Oyo
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested two Togolese nationals allegedly involved in a cross-border cannabis trafficking operation.
The suspects, identified as Yinusa Abdulsamad, 35, and Fatai Baba, 33, were apprehended on Saturday, September 26, along the Iganna-Ilero Road in Iganna.
According to the agency, officers recovered 305.6kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in two pickup vans.
NDLEA said the vehicles were allegedly being used to transport cannabis sourced from Ghana into Nigeria through the Oyo axis.
NDLEA arrests suspects in Lagos drug raids
In separate operations in Lagos on Saturday, September 26, NDLEA operatives arrested two women, Odumabo Kehinde, 36, and Obiekwe Chioma, 40, during a raid on Anifowoshe Street in Mushin.
The officers reportedly recovered 3.4kg of skunk from the suspects.
In another operation, a 58-year-old man, Ugwu Johnson, was intercepted at Ebute-Ero Motor Park with various illicit drugs.
The substances recovered from him included 5.920kg of skunk, 2,400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 8,400 tablets of nitrazepam, and 40,000 pills of tramadol.
The agency did not disclose further details about the suspects’ alleged roles in the drug trade or whether they had been charged in court.
Five arrested with 420 cartons of laughing gas
At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos State, NDLEA operatives arrested five suspects and seized 420 cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
The consignment weighed 1,688.4kg, while two vehicles allegedly used to transport the substance from the border into Lagos were also seized.
The suspects were identified as Kingsley John, 40; John Chibuike Okeke, 44; Lamidi Ismaila, 40; Babatunde Samuel, 42; and Afeesu Idowu, 47.
NDLEA intensifies drug abuse campaign
Beyond its enforcement operations, the agency said its commands and formations across the country continued public education activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
In Oyo State, officers conducted a sensitisation lecture for students and staff of Community High School, Saki.
Other activities took place at Auchi College in Edo State, Alkali Modibbo Islamic Centre in Dukku, Gombe State, and Junior Arabic Secondary School in Kahu, Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano State.
The NDLEA Delta Ports Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatshe III, as part of efforts to strengthen community involvement in the fight against drug abuse.
Marwa commends officers
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the MMIA, AIIA, Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Seme, and Bauchi commands for their operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with preventive education and public sensitisation.
He also encouraged officers to maintain their commitment to tackling drug trafficking and substance abuse across Nigeria.
