The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 966,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg worth more than N1.1bn at the Lagos airport, concealed among thrift trousers in a consignment imported from Pakistan.
The seizure was among a series of major drug interceptions across nine states, including the recovery of 2,145kg of cannabis hidden in a specially constructed compartment of a 20,000-litre fuel tanker.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the Tramadol consignment was packed in 21 cartons and concealed among thrift trousers imported from Pakistan.
Babafemi said operatives at the Lagos airport also recovered 57.80kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis valued at more than N173m, from cartons of disposable hand gloves in a shipment from Singapore.
According to him, the shipment had remained unclaimed for several weeks before a joint examination by NDLEA officers, Customs officials and other security agencies on Thursday, September 3, led to the discovery.
He stated that the seizures formed part of a coordinated crackdown targeting drug trafficking networks and sophisticated methods used to conceal illicit substances in legitimate commercial consignments.
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives in Ondo State intercepted a 20,000-litre fuel tanker fitted with a concealed compartment allegedly used to transport cannabis.
He stated that officers chased the tanker, marked MKA 960 XC, along the Akoko/Lokoja expressway on Friday after its driver refused to stop.
According to him, the driver later abandoned the tanker at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into the bush.
Babafemi said a search of the vehicle revealed a false compartment containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg, concealed alongside its legitimate fuel cargo destined for Jos, Plateau State.
At the Tincan Port in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted 598.08kg of cannabis-laced cookies and gummies, comprising 890 packets, inside a 40-foot container on Wednesday, September 2.
He stated that the consignment was linked to three suspects already in NDLEA custody — Yashim Dauji, Larry Ifeanyi and Joseph Moji.
Babafemi recalled that the three suspects had been arrested barely a month earlier following the seizure of 842.54kg of cannabis-laced cookies at the same port.
In Adamawa State, Babafemi said operatives recovered 864,000 opioid pills, particularly Tramadol, from a residence linked to a fleeing suspect, Patrick KC Frank.
He stated that the recovery followed a patrol operation around the Damilu and Jambutu axis of Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, on Friday.
According to him, Frank escaped after his Honda Civic car rammed an NDLEA patrol vehicle.
Babafemi added that 35-year-old Calistus Ebubechukwu, described as a major methamphetamine supplier allegedly operating from Lagos to the Mubi and Michika axis, was arrested in Michika with 2kg of methamphetamine.
He further disclosed that Attahiru Hussaini was intercepted at Namtari checkpoint in Mubi on Monday, August 31, with Tramadol and other opioids concealed in a soap-laden Ford Galaxy bus marked JJM-953XD.
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives in Lagos also recovered 2,386.9kg of cannabis, 350 grammes of cocaine, more than 100kg of assorted Tramadol, 9.7 litres of codeine syrup and 4kg of Rohypnol at Gbaji.
He added that two suspects, Damilare Francis and Emeh Emmanuel, were arrested at Agbara with 720kg of cannabis.
In Kogi State, Babafemi said three suspects, Saidu Mustapha, 35; Zaharadeen Salisu, 29; and AbdulSalam Abdullahi, 25, were arrested with 636kg of cannabis concealed in chicken manure aboard a bus travelling from Owo, Ondo State, to Jos, Plateau State.
In Taraba State, Babafemi said 58-year-old Kelechi Unachukwu was arrested along Zaki-Biam Road, Wukari Local Government Area, with more than 109kg of assorted pharmaceutical drugs, including Tramadol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, Phenobarbital, Exol-5, Nitrazepam, Bromazepam and Pregabalin.
He said the drugs were being conveyed in a Toyota Corolla marked KUJ-333BT from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State.
In Kaduna, he said operatives intercepted a truck loaded with bags of cement along the Zaria-Kano expressway and recovered 1,179kg of skunk.
Babafemi added that 25-year-old Hamza Dahiru was arrested in Bauchi in a follow-up operation after the seizure of 322.5kg of cannabis at Deba town in Gombe State on September 1.
In Ekiti State, he said NDLEA operatives uncovered and destroyed a four-hectare cannabis farm in Efon-Alaaye forest, arresting Chuks Alex, 50, and Asafa Adekunle, 35, and recovering 117kg of already harvested skunk.
He added that 20-year-old Obinna David was arrested at Ugbema Junction, Enugu State, on Saturday, September 5, with 40,590 capsules of Tramadol.
