The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound cannabis consignment concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and uncovered 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth more than ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizures were part of a series of nationwide operations that also led to the recovery of Canadian Loud, thousands of tramadol tablets and cannabis consignments across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory. Among those arrested was an 85-year-old woman found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State.
Cannabis Concealed in Palm Oil
According to the NDLEA, operatives on Friday, October 16, intercepted Fatimah Ahmad during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa. A search of her belongings revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil.
The agency said Fatimah identified her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, as the person who gave her the gallon, leading to his arrest at the airport car park.
₦6.98bn Tramadol Shipment Uncovered at Apapa Port
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies uncovered a shipment of powdered tramadol from India that had been declared as maize starch.
A laboratory test confirmed the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from its concealment on October 14, the shipment yielded 349 bags weighing a total of 8,725 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.
In a separate operation at the Tin Can Island Port on October 12, officers recovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle inside a 40-foot container.
More Drug Seizures Across Lagos
The agency also reported several arrests and seizures across Lagos.
At Idumota Market, operatives arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu on October 14 and recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
In Mushin, two 35-year-old men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.
On the same day, officers intercepted a truck along Iyana Oba following intelligence about illicit drug consignments. The operation led to the arrest of Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, while 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg were recovered from cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
85-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Edo
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects and recovering cannabis and other controlled substances.
The suspects included 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was arrested at Warake with 179 kilogrammes of skunk. Other arrests involved Ayo Aigberadion, found with 220.8 kilogrammes at Ewe/Irue, and four other suspects allegedly found with varying quantities of cannabis and substances including tramadol and diazepam.
Cannabis Farms Destroyed in Ondo
In Ondo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest on October 17, destroying an estimated 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated across three hectares.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation. The agency also reported recovering 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems.
In a separate operation in Owo, officers recovered 375 kilogrammes of cannabis from a hideout in Ameyinti and arrested 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi.
Tramadol and Cannabis Seized in Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna
In Bauchi State, officers intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14 and recovered 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets from Shamsu Garba, 35.
On the same day, operatives patrolling 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, Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested at Malan Kato with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, a raid at Kayimi village led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis. Another operation along Ali Akilu Road resulted in the arrest of John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In Abuja, officers arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike at Utako on October 17 with 29,500 tramadol capsules.
NDLEA Reaffirms Drug Prevention Campaign
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its commands continued public awareness activities under its War Against Drug Abuse campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across several states.
The campaign included sensitisation sessions in Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Rivers, Edo and Kano states, among other locations.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers from the affected commands for their operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s approach to drug control.
Source: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), statement issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, October 18, 2026.
