The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and 76,273.4 kilograms of cannabis in a series of coordinated, intelligence-led operations across multiple states.
A statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the raids also led to the arrest of several suspected members of drug trafficking syndicates and the destruction of large drug warehouses hidden in forest locations.
The biggest haul came from Delta State, where operatives stormed a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, on Saturday, December 6, recovering about 3.8 million tramadol pills of various strengths and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup.
In Imo State, NDLEA officers on Wednesday, December 3, intercepted a vehicle along the Onitsha–Owerri road at Orogwe and seized 1.2 million tramadol tablets from a 35-year-old suspect, Kelechi Nwakocha. The consignment was traced to Aba and was headed for Onitsha.
Another major bust occurred in Adamawa State on Monday, December 1, when officers intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Mubi. Inside the bus, 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and Exol-5 were found concealed in jumbo bags mixed with rubber slippers. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were apprehended.
In Ekiti State, a special operations team raided forests in Omuo-Ekiti, destroying 14,654 kilograms of skunk and arresting two suspects. A separate operation in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, on Tuesday, December 2, led to the destruction of 54,300 kilograms of skunk stored in two warehouses.
Operatives in Ondo State, on December 2, stormed Igoba forest in Akure North LGA, recovering 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags of skunk, totalling 5,442 kilograms. Five suspects were arrested.
In Lagos State, officers seized 217 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 113 kilograms from a suspect in Mushin. Additional arrests were recorded in Onipanu and the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, with suspects found in possession of varying quantities of skunk.
Operations in Edo State yielded 447.5 kilograms of skunk recovered from two Honda Accord cars at Agho forest, while a warehouse raid in Isiefve community led to the seizure of 315.8 kilograms.
In the FCT, operatives intercepted 22 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis variant, along the Abaji expressway on Wednesday, December 3. A follow-up operation at Jabi Park led to the arrest of the recipient.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA commands nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign with awareness lectures across schools, including St. Michael’s Academy in Kano, Harry Pass Secondary School in Benue, and Community Junior Secondary School in Rivers State.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger, and Edo commands for their “resolute commitment” to drug control, noting that the agency continues to balance both supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
