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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered skunk and tramadol in multiple operations across Nigeria between March 16 and 20, 2026.
NDLEA spokesperson, in a statement issued on Sunday, revealed that the illicit substances were recovered across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, the FCT, Taraba, and Adamawa during that period.
NDLEA intercepts opioids, meth in carton walls, winter jackets, cream at Lagos airport
– Recovers large consignments of illicit drugs in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, FCT, Taraba, Adamawa raids
Read more at:https://t.co/vvqwN0BRLB pic.twitter.com/hCN0fhJBSQ
— NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) March 22, 2026
A 35-year-old man, Abdulkadir Mamuda, was arrested with 102.5kg of skunk at Dan- Tsalle, in Kano State, on Wednesday, while another suspect, Uche Johnson Festus, 47, was apprehended on the same day at Naibawa Gabas, with 95.5kg of the same psychoactive substance.
NDLEA operatives also recovered no fewer than 21, 737 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a store at Otto, Ijora area of Lagos when NDLEA operatives raided the area on Wednesday. Two suspects, Chidiebere Anigbogu and Paul Nwagbara, were arrested on the same day on the 3rd mainland bridge, conveying 8,380 bottles of the same substance.
Babafemi further revealed that 97.5kg skunk was recovered from the home of a suspect, Akeem Idde, 37, in Ojah, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State, on March 16, 2026. In Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada expressway in the FCT. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 91,840 pills of tramadol hidden in its body compartments, and the driver, 27-year-old Aminu Ali, was detained.
“In Oyo state, a suspect, Bankole Bari, was arrested on March 17, at Oke-Oyan, Ibarapa LGA, with 71.2kg of skunk, which he smuggled into Nigeria from the Benin Republic through the Oyan river,” said Babafemi.
“Not less than 586,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered by NDLEA operatives from Lawal Anas, 28, along Kaduna-Zaria highway, Kaduna, on March 17, while 7,290 tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized from Musa Shuaibu, 22, at the same location on March 20. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives in Taraba state on March 17, intercepted a suspect, Aliyu Adamu, 26, along the Takum- Jalingo highway while conveying 77,660 capsules of tramadol to Gombe.”
The NDLEA spokesperson further revealed that no fewer than six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 82.8kg of tramadol in a truck in Yola on March 17, in Adamawa State.
The suspects, whom Babafemi identified as Ramatu Aliyu, Jungudo Abdullahi, Najid Abdullahi, Musa Mohammed, Usman Abdulrahim and Musa Mohammed, were arrested in follow-up operations.
