Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a massive consignment of powdered tramadol at the Apapa Port in Lagos and destroyed 7,500 kilogrammes of cannabis at a farm in Ondo State as the agency intensified its anti-drug operations across Nigeria.
According to a statement released by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the Lagos and Ondo operations were among a series of drug interdictions recorded across the Southwest in recent days, with the agency also making several arrests and recovering cannabis, opioids and other illicit substances in Lagos and Edo states.
At the Apapa port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, discovered a shipment from India that had been declared as maize starch.
Laboratory analysis subsequently confirmed the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder.
When the consignment was separated from its concealment on October 14, it was found to comprise 349 bags weighing 8,725kg.
NDLEA valued the consignment at more than N6.98 billion in street value.
Another major seizure was recorded at the Tincan Port in Lagos on October 12, where officers discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, valued at N165 million.
The substance was concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle loaded in a 40-foot container.
Lagos operations also extended to Idumota Market, where officers arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu on October 14 and recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
In Mushin, two 35-year-old men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk respectively.
NDLEA operatives also intercepted a truck along Iyana Oba after it reportedly left Trade Fair Market.
Two suspects, identified as loading manager Tajudeen Adeduntan and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested.
A search of the vehicle yielded 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Ondo State, the agency moved against cannabis cultivation, raiding a farm in Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17.
According to NDLEA, operatives destroyed 7,500kg of skunk cultivated on three hectares during the operation and arrested five suspects: Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
The operation also produced 1,281kg of recovered exhibits, comprising 1,267kg of skunk packed in 92 bags, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh cannabis stems.
In a separate operation in Owo, operatives reportedly tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to a hideout in Ameyinti on October 16, where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.
Edo State also recorded significant arrests during raids conducted in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.
Six suspects were arrested, including 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who NDLEA said was found with 179kg of skunk at Warake.
Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, 53, was arrested with 220.8kg of cannabis at Ewe/Irue, while Ali Garba, 57, was found with 5.852kg and Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes.
NDLEA also said Musa Mubid, 35, was arrested with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam, while Hope Okoro, 35, was found with 237 grammes of Loud.
Beyond arrests and seizures, the agency continued its drug-prevention campaign in Oyo State. As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) activities during the week, NDLEA conducted an enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Nawar-Ur-Deen High School in Ogboro.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining what he described as a balanced approach to drug control.
The latest operations highlight the scale and variety of illicit drug activity being targeted by NDLEA across the Southwest, ranging from large-scale importation and distribution of pharmaceutical opioids in Lagos to cannabis cultivation and storage in Ondo and Edo states.
