Daud Olatunji
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted a shipment of tramadol hydrochloride powder valued at more than ₦6.98bn at the Apapa Port in Lagos and arrested a woman allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis to Saudi Arabia.
The agency also uncovered several consignments of illicit drugs in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Ondo and Bauchi states, leading to multiple arrests and the recovery of large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and other controlled substances.
The NDLEA said the woman, identified as Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State.
According to the agency, operatives discovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed inside a gallon of palm oil in her possession.
Ahmad reportedly told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. The agency said 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 a series of anti-drug operations conducted across the country.
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies intercepted the tramadol shipment on October 2 during an examination of cargo declared as maize starch.
The substance was subsequently subjected to laboratory analysis, which confirmed it to be tramadol hydrochloride powder.
The agency said the consignment was separated from its concealment on October 14, revealing 349 bags with a combined gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes and an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98bn.
At the Tin Can Port, also in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on October 12 discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis valued at ₦165m, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle packed in a 40-foot container.
In another operation, the agency arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota Market on October 14, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
The crackdown also extended to Mushin, where two men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in separate operations on October 15.
The agency said 59.95 kilogrammes of skunk, a cannabis strain, were recovered from Daudu, while 61.23 kilogrammes were seized from Oniyinde.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck along the Iyana Oba axis after intelligence indicated that it was conveying illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market.
A search of the vehicle reportedly led to the discovery of 18,000 tramadol 250mg pills concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
The suspects arrested in connection with the shipment were identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.
In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during coordinated 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 in possession of 179 kilogrammes of skunk.
Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, 53, was arrested with 220.8 kilogrammes of the substance.
Other suspects were reportedly found with varying quantities of cannabis and other controlled substances, including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.
In Ondo State, the agency said its operatives raided a cannabis farm at Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation.
The raid also yielded 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh cannabis stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation in Owo, NDLEA operatives tracked a 53-year-old suspect, Okunebe Ndidi, to a hideout in Ameyinti on October 16, where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.
Bauchi operation yields 894,800 tramadol capsules
In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14.
A search of the vehicle reportedly led to the recovery of 894,800 tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets from a 35-year-old suspect, Shamsu Garba.
The agency also disclosed 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.
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