Saudi-bound cannabis consignment hidden in palm oil intercepted at Kano airport, NDLEA seizes N7bn tramadol
By Zagazola Makama
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, as the agency uncovered 8,725kg of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion at the Apapa port in Lagos.
The interception was among a series of intelligence-driven operations conducted by the agency across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leading to the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs and the arrest of several suspects, including an 85-year-old woman.
At the Kano airport, operatives on Friday, October 16, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
A search of her luggage reportedly uncovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis, popularly known as skunk, concealed in a gallon of palm oil.
The suspect allegedly told investigators that the gallon had been given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
In a major seizure at the Apapa port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working alongside the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies, uncovered 8,725kg of powdered tramadol hydrochloride imported from India and falsely declared as maize starch.
The consignment was discovered on October 2 at the APM terminals, while a subsequent separation of the substance from its concealment on October 14 revealed 349 bags of the opioid, with an estimated street value exceeding N6.98 billion.
At the Tincan port in Lagos, operatives on October 12 also intercepted 55kg of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at N165 million.
The substance was reportedly packed in brown cartons and concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle shipped in a 40-foot container.
Further operations in Lagos led to the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota market on October 14, where operatives recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
Two other suspects, Idowu Daudu, 35, and Ahmed Oniyinde, 35, were arrested in Mushin on October 15 with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk, respectively.
In a separate operation along Iyana Oba, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck coming from Trade Fair market following intelligence reports.
The operation led to the arrest of Tajudeen Adeduntan, identified as the loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, while 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg were recovered from cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects and recovering substantial quantities of illicit substances.
The suspects included 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179kg of skunk at Warake; Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.
In Ondo State, operatives on October 17 raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, destroying an estimated 7,500kg of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation, while exhibits recovered included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh cannabis stems.
In another operation in Owo, a 53-year-old suspect, Okunebe Ndidi, was arrested at his hideout in Ameyinti on October 16, with 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.
In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14.
The search reportedly led to the recovery of 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.
On the same day, operatives on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg 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 Niger Street, Malan Kato, on October 14 with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, operatives raided Kayimi village and arrested Mohammed Sani, 48, Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29, and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg of cannabis.
A separate raid at Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road led to the arrest of John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In Abuja, operatives arrested a 42-year-old suspect, Odo Jonas Ejike, in the Utako area on October 17, recovering 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign across schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities in several states.
The campaign included enlightenment lectures at schools in Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Edo and Kano, as well as the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the Apapa, Tincan, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano, Kaduna and FCT commands for what he described as professional and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency's balanced approach to drug control, including enforcement and public awareness.
The agency disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18, by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja.
