NDLEA Seizes 7.6m Tramadol Pills, 76 Tonnes of Cannabis

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized more than 7.6 million pills of tramadol and 76,273.4 kilograms of cannabis, including Colorado, Loud and Skunk, during intelligence-driven raids across multiple states.

The seizure which happens to be one of its largest coordinated operations this year, targeted drug trafficking corridors, transit routes and forest drug hubs, also led to the arrest of several members of drug trafficking networks and the destruction of major cannabis warehouses hidden in remote forests in Ekiti and Ondo states.

A statement on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, says significant portion of the seizures came from Delta State, where operatives uncovered 3.8 million tramadol pills and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup in a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, on 6 December.

Three days earlier, on 3rd of December, NDLEA officers in Imo State intercepted 1.2 million tramadol tablets along the Onitsha–Owerri Road, arresting the driver, Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, who was transporting the consignment from Aba to Onitsha.

In Adamawa, a patrol team stopped a Toyota Hiace bus loaded with 1,577,112 tramadol and exol-5 capsules, concealed inside jumbo bags of new slippers.

Two suspects — Kabiru Buba (25) and Hamza Abubakar (32) — were arrested. Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu (27), was caught with 197,000 exol-5 pills along Zaria–Kano Road.

Meanwhile, operatives of NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit stormed deep forest locations in Omuo-Ekiti, destroying 14,654kg of skunk and arresting two suspects.

A follow-up operation in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, uncovered two massive warehouses containing 54,300kg of skunk, which were promptly destroyed, with 28.3kg recovered as evidence for prosecution.

In Ondo State, actionable intelligence led officers to Igoba forest in Akure North, where they seized 5,442kg of cannabis and arrested five suspects: Jacob Omodowo (66), Joy Oluatobi Peace (24), Babatunde Olamide (40), Echi Fidelis Joseph (57), and Ankrah Akano (56).

In the FCT: 22kg of Colorado were seized at Abaji expressway; a follow-up arrest made at Jabi Park.

Another suspect was caught with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 exol-5 pills along Kwali–Gwagwalada expressway.

In Niger State: 500kg of cannabis was recovered from a Mercedes Benz van; driver Amos Yakubu (46) arrested.

In Lagos: 113kg Canadian Loud was found with Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo Market, 351kg skunk seized at Onipanu while 104.1kg skunk was recovered from Susan Okoro at Trade Fair Complex.

In Edo State: 447.5kg cannabis was seized from two vehicles in Agho forest. Another 315.8kg was recovered in a warehouse in Isiefve community, with suspect Stanley Obasuwa arrested.

The NDLEA spokesman added that beyond arrests and seizures, it’s Commands intensified drug education activities under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, engaging schools, churches, workplaces and communities across Kano, Benue, Rivers and other states.

In his reaction, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the officers across Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger and Edo Commands for what he described as a balanced and effective combination of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.