The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and seized illicit drugs worth more than N7 billion at Lagos ports.
The agency also arrested several suspects in coordinated operations across multiple states, including an 85-year-old woman allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State.
The NDLEA disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, operatives at the Kano airport 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 reportedly revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis, also known as skunk, concealed in a gallon of palm oil.
Ahmad allegedly told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon. Yahaya was subsequently tracked and arrested at the airport car park.
In a major seizure at the Lagos ports, NDLEA operatives uncovered 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol valued at more than N6.98 billion.
Babafemi said the shipment arrived from India and was falsely declared as maize starch.
The consignment was discovered during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies at APM Terminals, Apapa, on October 2.
A confirmatory test conducted at the NDLEA forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from its concealment on October 14, the shipment comprised 349 bags weighing a total of 8,725 kilogrammes.
In a separate operation at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, on October 12, operatives seized 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, valued at N165 million.
The drugs were packed in brown cartons and concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in a 40-foot container.
LAGOS, EDO, ONDO RAIDS
The agency also recorded several arrests and seizures in Lagos State.
On October 14, operatives raided Idumota Market and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.
The following day, two 35-year-old men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in Mushin with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.
Also on October 15, operatives intercepted a truck coming from Trade Fair Market along Iyana Oba and arrested its loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru.
The suspects were allegedly transporting 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.
They included 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk in Warake, and Ayo Aigberadion, 53, who was arrested with 220.8 kilogrammes.
Others were Ali Garba, 57; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35; and Hope Okoro, 35.
In Ondo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land.
Five suspects were arrested, while 1,281 kilogrammes of skunk, alongside cannabis seeds and stems, were recovered.
In a separate operation in Owo, a 53-year-old suspect, Okunebe Ndidi, was arrested with 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.
BAUCHI, KANO, KADUNA, FCT OPERATIONS
In Bauchi State, operatives intercepted Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14.
He was allegedly found transporting 894,800 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 tablets in his Volkswagen Golf.
On the same day, 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes were recovered from an abandoned vehicle along the Bauchi-Gombe Road.
In Kano State, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
Another suspect, Murtala Dayyabu, 54, was arrested on Niger Street with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna State, three suspects were arrested in Kayimi village with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, while John Ayo David, 39, was apprehended at Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road with 49,500 tablets of tramadol.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives arrested Odo Jonas Ejike, 42, at Utako on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
MARWA COMMENDS OPERATIVES
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Apapa, Tin Can, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and FCT commands for their efforts.
He urged them to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks across the country.
Marwa commended the officers for their professionalism and called for sustained operations against illicit drug trafficking.
