NDLEA Intercepts Saudi-Bound Cannabis Hidden In Palm Oil, Seizes ₦7bn Tramadol

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and seized 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth over ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, the agency said the operations also led to the seizure of large consignments of illicit drugs across several states and the arrest of dozens of suspects, including an 85-year-old woman in Edo State.

At the Kano airport, NDLEA operatives on Friday, October 16, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.

A search revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis, also known as skunk, concealed in a gallon of palm oil. The statement said Ahmad told operatives that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the gallon. He was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

Read Also: NDLEA Records 38,242 Arrests, Seizes Drugs Worth ₦2.5trn In 21 Months

At the Apapa Port in Lagos, a joint examination involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies uncovered a shipment of powdered tramadol from India on October 2. The consignment had been declared as maize starch.

A confirmatory test at the NDLEA forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from its concealment on Wednesday, October 14, the shipment comprised 349 bags weighing 8,725 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.

In a separate operation at the Tin Can Island Port on Monday, October 12, officers recovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle inside a 40-foot container.

The agency also raided Idumota Market in Lagos on October 14, arresting Elizabeth Chidera Kalu and recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.

Two men, Idowu Daudu, 35, and Ahmed Oniyinde, 35, were arrested in Mushin the following day with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck travelling from Trade Fair Market along Iyana Oba on October 15. Two suspects, identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested after officers recovered 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

In Edo State, operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects and recovering various quantities of cannabis and other substances.

Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk at Warake. Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8 kilogrammes at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852 kilogrammes; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with two kilogrammes of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, October 17, raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest and destroyed 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land.

Five suspects were arrested during the operation. Recovered exhibits included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.

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

In Bauchi State, operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by 35-year-old Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14, recovering 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.

The same day, officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.

In Kano State, two suspects, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

Another suspect, 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu, was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, on October 14 with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.

In Kaduna State, a raid at Kayimi village led to the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48, Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29, and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.

At Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, operatives arrested John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg. In Abuja, a 42-year-old suspect, Odo Jonas Ejike, was arrested in the Utako area on Saturday, October 17, with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.

The outreach activities included lectures at Nawar-Ur-Deen High School in Ogboro, Oyo State; Elf Junior Secondary School in Bojude, Gombe State; Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School in Ikorodu, Lagos; Harmony Secondary School in Lokoja, Kogi State; and Government Secondary School in Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State.

Other sessions were held at Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in Port Harcourt, Mesh International School in Benin City, Edo State, and Abu Hanifa Academy in Kano Municipal, among other locations.

Commenting on the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the Apapa, Tin Can, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and FCT commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach.

He urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the fight against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.