NDLEA Seizes N7bn Tramadol, Loud at Lagos Ports, Arrests 85-Year-Old Woman with Cannabis

Agency intercepts Saudi-bound cannabis hidden in palm oil keg at Kano airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion at the Apapa port and 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud valued at N165 million at the Tincan port, both in Lagos, while arresting an 85-year-old woman with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18, 2026, detailing a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the statement, the powdered tramadol was imported from India and concealed in a shipment declared as maize starch. The consignment was uncovered during a joint examination by NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies at the APM terminals in Apapa.

Although the shipment was discovered on October 2, the drugs were separated from their concealment on Wednesday, October 14, revealing 349 bags weighing 8,725 kilogrammes.

A confirmatory test conducted at the NDLEA forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder, with an estimated street value of more than N6.98 billion.

In a separate operation at the Tincan port on Monday, October 12, operatives discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at N165 million, concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle inside a 40-foot container. The drugs were packed in brown cartons and hidden inside the vehicle.

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

Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis at Warake.

Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, arrested with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis 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, operatives acting on intelligence raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on Saturday, October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of cannabis cultivated on three hectares of land.

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

In another operation in Ameyinti, Owo, on Friday, October 16, operatives arrested 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi and recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes from his hideout.

At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, operatives intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil.

The interception occurred on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.

The passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, was found with 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed inside the gallon. She reportedly told investigators that the item had been given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

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

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

Along Iyana Oba, operatives intercepted a truck conveying illicit drugs from Trade Fair Market and arrested Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.

A search of the truck led to the recovery of 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

In Bauchi State, operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by 35-year-old Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village, Katagum Local Government Area, on Wednesday, 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, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on Tuesday, October 13, with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

A day later, 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, 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.

In a separate operation at Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, operatives arrested 39-year-old John Ayo David 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 NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country during the week under review.

The campaign featured enlightenment lectures at schools in Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Edo and Kano states, as well as at the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in Port Harcourt.

Institutions reached included 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; Government Secondary School in Ikot Ansa, Calabar; Mesh International School in Benin City; and Abu Hanifa Academy in Kano Municipal.

Commending officers and men of the Apapa, Tincan, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and FCT Commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks.

He also called on personnel across the country to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.