The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted over 7.6 million pills of tramadol and about 76,273.4 kilograms of cannabis—including Colorado, Loud and Skunk—during a string of intelligence-driven operations across several states in the past week.
The operations, which also led to multiple arrests and the destruction of drug warehouses in forested territories, were carried out by NDLEA commands in Delta, Imo, Adamawa, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Niger, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, the latest breakthroughs reflect “the Agency’s intensified nationwide clampdown on drug trafficking networks and illicit drug markets.”
A significant portion of the opioids seized—about 3,874,000 pills of tramadol (225mg and 100mg) and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup—was recovered from a warehouse at Oko Market in Asaba, Delta State on Saturday, December 6.
Earlier on December 3, operatives in Imo State intercepted a vehicle at Orogwe along the Onitsha–Owerri road and seized 1.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg from a suspect, Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, who was transporting the consignment from Aba to Onitsha.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers on December 1 seized 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and Exol-5 hidden inside jumbo bags containing new rubber sandals on a bus travelling from Jos to Mubi. Two suspects—Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32—were arrested.
Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was apprehended along the Zaria–Kano road with 197,000 pills of Exol-5.
A special operations unit of the NDLEA stormed forest enclaves in Omuo-Ekiti, destroying 14,654kg of skunk and arresting two suspects, Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26.
The following day, December 2, operatives raided Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, where they demolished two massive drug warehouses containing 54,300kg of skunk, while 28.3kg was recovered for prosecution purposes.
On the same day, NDLEA agents in Igoba Forest, Akure North LGA, Ondo State, recovered 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags of skunk, weighing a total of 5,442kg, and arrested five suspects: Jacob Omodowo (66), Joy Oluatobi Peace (24), Babatunde Olamide (40), Echi Fidelis Joseph (57), and Ankrah Akano (56).
Additional Seizures by the agency operatives across country include: Niger State: 500kg of cannabis recovered from a Mercedes Benz van on the Mokwa–Jebba road; driver Amos Yakubu, with 46, arrested; FCT Abuja: 22kg of Colorado seized at Abaji expressway with follow-up arrest of Ali Blessing, 33, at Jabi Park, and another arrest of one Aliyu Usman, 39. He was arrested with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 Exol-5 pills along Kwali–Gwagwalada expressway.
Similarly, in Lagos, 217 pouches of Canadian Loud (113kg) was recovered from Ezenwa Udoka in Ladipo market; 351kg of skunk seized from Izuchukwu Usulor in Onipanu; 104.1kg recovered from Susan Okoro at Trade Fair Complex, Ojo.
In Edo State, 447.5kg of skunk seized from two vehicles in Agho Forest, Akoko Edo; suspect Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56, arrested. Another raid in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde LGA, led to the seizure of 315.8kg and arrest of Stanley Obasuwa.
Alongside its enforcement operations, NDLEA commands expanded their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) outreach to schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities in Kano, Benue and Rivers states, among others.
Reacting to the series of nationwide operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the affected commands for their “balanced and coordinated approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction.”
Babafemi added that the seizures and arrests send “a clear message that there is no hiding place for drug cartels across Nigeria.”
