NDLEA Uncovers ₦6.98 Billion Drug Shipment at Apapa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol powder worth more than ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos and arrested a woman allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis to Saudi Arabia.

The agency arrested the passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.

NDLEA operatives allegedly found 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil she was carrying.

According to the agency, Ahmad told officers that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. Operatives subsequently arrested Yahaya at the airport car park.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement on Sunday, detailing anti-drug operations across several states.

At Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, uncovered the tramadol shipment on October 2 during an examination of cargo declared as maize starch.

A confirmatory test at the agency’s forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder.

After the drugs were separated from their concealment on October 14, the shipment comprised 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes and an estimated value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.

At Tin Can Port, also in Lagos, officers discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, hidden inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle in a 40-foot container on October 12.

The agency also reported the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota Market on October 14. Operatives allegedly recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.

In separate operations in Mushin, operatives arrested two men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, on October 15, allegedly recovering 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk from them, respectively.

Another operation along Iyana Oba led to the interception of a truck suspected of transporting illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market.

The NDLEA said officers found 18,000 tramadol 250mg pills in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide. The suspects arrested were identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.

NDLEA raids communities in Edo

In Edo State, the agency said operatives arrested six suspects during raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.

Those arrested included 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk, and 53-year-old Ayo Aigberadion, from whom 220.8 kilogrammes were reportedly recovered.

Other suspects were allegedly found with varying quantities of cannabis and substances including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.

In Ondo State, the agency said 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 and arresting five suspects.

The operation also yielded 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems. The agency put the total weight of the recovered exhibits at 1,281 kilogrammes.

In another operation in Owo, officers tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to a hideout in Ameyinti on October 16 and allegedly recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.

Tramadol recovered in Bauchi

In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14.

The agency said officers recovered 894,800 tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets from the vehicle’s occupant, 35-year-old Shamsu Garba.

In a separate operation, officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.