NDLEA intercepts Saudi-bound cannabis in palm oil keg, N6.98bn tramadol shipment

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

The passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested 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, Kano State.

The agency said operatives found 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil she was carrying.

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

The agency’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 across several states.

At the 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. When separated from its concealment on October 14, the shipment comprised 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes, valued at more than ₦6.98 billion.

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

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

In separate operations in Mushin, two men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.

Another operation along Iyana Oba led to the interception of a truck allegedly carrying illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market. The NDLEA said 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg were found in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide. The suspects arrested were identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.

In Edo State, six suspects were arrested 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 Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8 kilogrammes. Other suspects were allegedly found with varying quantities of cannabis and other substances, including tramadol, Swinol and diazepam.

In Ondo State, the agency said operatives raided a cannabis farm in 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, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.

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

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

The agency also said officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village. (Channels TV)