ASABA: Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted more than 7.6 million pills of tramadol and 76,273.4 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including cannabis strains such as Colorado, Loud and Skunk, across several states, with multiple suspects arrested in nationwide operations.
In Delta State, NDLEA officers on Saturday, December 6, 2025, recovered no fewer than 3,874,000 pills of tramadol comprising 225mg and 100mg dosages — alongside bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse at Oko Market in Asaba.
In Imo State, about 1.2 million tablets of tramadol (225mg) were intercepted on Wednesday, December 3, at Orogwe along the Onitsha–Owerri road.
The consignment, reportedly loaded in Aba, Abia State, and bound for Onitsha, Anambra State, was recovered from a vehicle driven by a suspect, Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, who was arrested.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State on Monday, December 1, intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus marked MGU 554 XB along the Maraba–Mubi axis.
A total of 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets were found concealed in jumbo bags mixed with rubber sandals and slippers. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested.
In a related operation, another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was apprehended along the Zaria–Kano road with 197,000 pills of exol-5.
NDLEA special units also stormed drug farms and warehouses in Ekiti State. In Omuo-Ekiti, operatives destroyed 14,654kg of skunk and arrested two suspects, Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26. At Asin-Ekiti in Ikole Local Council, 54,300kg of skunk was destroyed in two warehouses that were subsequently razed, while 28.3kg of the substance was recovered for prosecution.
Following actionable intelligence, NDLEA officers raided Igoba Forest in Akure North Local Council of Ondo State, where 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags of skunk, weighing 5,442kg, were seized. Five suspects were arrested, including Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Mercedes-Benz van marked MGU 614 XB along the Mokwa–Jebba road on December 4, recovering 500kg of skunk and arresting the driver, Amos Yakubu, 46.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives seized 22kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, at Abaji Expressway on Wednesday, December 3. A follow-up operation at Jabi Motor Park led to the arrest of a female receiver, Blessing Ali, 33.
Similarly, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested along the Kwali–Gwagwalada road on Friday, December 5, with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 pills of exol-5.
Lagos operations also yielded significant seizures. NDLEA officers recovered 113kg of Canadian Loud from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo Market, Mushin.
Another suspect, Izuchukwu Usulor, was arrested with 351kg of skunk at Onipanu, while Susan Okoro was nabbed with 104.1kg of the same substance at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo.
In Edo State, operatives recovered 447.5kg of skunk from two Honda Accord vehicles at Agho Forest, Akoko Edo Local Council, leading to the arrest of Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56.
A subsequent raid on a warehouse in the Isiefve community of Ohuwunde Local Council resulted in the seizure of 315.8kg of skunk and the arrest of Stanley Obasuwa.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide intensified War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Commending the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised officers of the Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger and Edo commands for their professionalism, noting that their balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction was commendable.
