NDLEA Intercepts Palm Oil Keg with Cannabis to Saudi, Seizes N7bn Tramadol at Lagos Port

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has recorded major seizures across seven states, including a Saudi-bound cannabis concealed in palm oil and over N6.98bn worth of tramadol at Apapa Port.

The nationwide operations also led to arrest of an 85-year-old grandmother with 179kg of skunk in Edo, destruction of 7.5 tonnes of cannabis on a farm in Ondo, and recovery of hundreds of thousands of opioid pills.

Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the crackdown targeted networks operating through airports, seaports, markets, highways and plantations.

—Saudi-bound cannabis hidden in palm oil intercepted in Kano—

At Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, operatives last Friday intercepted Fatimah Ahmad during outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa.

A search of her luggage revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil. She told investigators her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the gallon. Yahaya was arrested at the airport car park.

—N6.98bn powdered tramadol, Canadian Loud seized at Lagos ports—

At Apapa Port, NDLEA and other agencies uncovered 8,725kg of powdered tramadol imported from India and falsely declared as maize starch. The consignment was discovered October 2 at APM terminals during joint examination with Customs. Lab tests confirmed tramadol hydrochloride powder.

When separated from concealment on October 14, it weighed 8,725kg in 349 bags, valued at over N6.98bn.

At Tincan Island Port on October 12, operatives found 55kg of Canadian Loud worth N165m hidden inside a Toyota Sienna in a 40ft container.

—Raids in Lagos markets, Mushin, Iyana Oba—

At Idumota Market on October 14, Elizabeth Chidera Kalu was arrested with 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly.

In Mushin on October 15, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, both 35, were arrested with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk respectively.

Along Iyana Oba axis, a truck conveying drugs from Trade Fair Market was intercepted. Loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested with 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

—85-year-old among six arrested in Edo—

In Edo, six suspects were arrested in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities, Owan East LGA, between October 15 and 16.

Among them was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka arrested at Warake with 179kg of skunk. Others are Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100g; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg cannabis, seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237g of Loud.

—7.5 tonnes destroyed in Ondo farm—

In Ondo, operatives raided a farm in Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17 and destroyed 7,500kg of skunk on three hectares.

Five suspects were arrested — Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35. Operatives recovered 92 bags weighing 1,267kg, 11kg seeds and 3kg fresh stems, totalling 1,281kg exhibits.

In another operation at Ameyinti, Owo on October 16, Okunebe Ndidi, 53, was arrested with 25 bags weighing 375kg.

—Big seizures in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, FCT—

In Bauchi, a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by Shamsu Garba, 35, was intercepted at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA on October 14 with 894,800 pills of tramadol and Exol-5. Same day, 291 blocks weighing 265kg were recovered from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira along Bauchi-Gombe Road.

In Kano, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested October 13 along Zaria-Kano Road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg. On October 14, Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.

In Kaduna, raid at Kayimi village led to arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg cannabis. At Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, John Ayo David, 39, was arrested with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

In FCT, Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, was arrested in Utako on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), commended officers of Apapa, Tincan, Kano Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano, Kaduna and FCT Commands and urged sustained intelligence-driven operations, balancing enforcement with WADA enlightenment campaigns in schools, worship centres and communities.