The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long-haul trailers heading to Kano, dealing a significant blow to a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo–Benin Republic–Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman allegedly linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and several other suspects in coordinated anti-drug operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The arrests and seizures were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the operations were intelligence-driven and exposed sophisticated concealment methods employed by traffickers.
According to Babafemi, the first trailer was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of 250mg tramadol hidden inside a specially fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
“One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver, Jabir Kabiru,” he said.
The agency struck again two days later, intercepting another trailer travelling along the same route with a similar concealment.
“On 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver, Muhammed Nuhu, arrested,” Babafemi stated.
He said investigations showed that both consignments were linked to the same international trafficking network.
“Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis,” he said.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed inside cartons labelled “Odugwu” that arrived from Canada aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights.
The operation led to the arrest of cargo agents Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga before officers apprehended Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, who reportedly arrived to claim the consignments.
Further investigation resulted in the arrest of 44-year-old businesswoman Chioma Nneka Mokeme, who was identified as the alleged owner of the shipments.
“Chioma, who claimed she is into printing business, said her friend Agbons Collins, who lives in Canada, introduced her into the criminal trade,” Babafemi said.
In Rivers State, NDLEA operatives arrested 80-year-old Chika Ugwoji at Ahoada after allegedly recovering 800 grams of skunk from his possession.
In another operation in Edo State, officers raided a suspected drug warehouse along Sapele Road in Benin City, arresting a couple, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and Nwanneka Christian, 33.
The raid led to the seizure of 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 219.5 kilograms, alongside 192.67 kilograms of Canadian Loud.
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, operatives arrested 38-year-old Chadian woman Hajara Abdullahi and her Nigerian accomplice, Abdulkarim Jidda, 44, following investigations into the interception of 50,000 pills of 225mg tramadol on July 12.
Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes held in schools across Katsina, Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Ekiti and Kano states as part of efforts to curb drug abuse through public education.
Commending the officers involved in the nationwide operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised their commitment to the agency’s anti-drug campaign.
“The efforts of the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Rivers, Edo and Kogi Commands, and those of their compatriots across the country, have contributed in no small measure to ongoing drug control efforts across the country,” Marwa said.
He urged the operatives to “remain vigilant at all times” as the agency intensifies its offensive against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse nationwide.