The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, in enforcement operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the combined street value of the seized drugs exceeded N3.4 billion.
The operations also led to the arrest of several suspects, including a man accused of impersonating a senior police officer and another suspect arrested at an auto-repair workshop allegedly being used to store illicit drugs.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the seizures and arrests in a statement on Sunday.
One of the largest seizures was recorded at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg.
The agency valued the cannabis strain at approximately N1.81 billion.
According to Babafemi, the shipment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 and was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by the NDLEA.
The container was later subjected to a joint physical examination involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16.
The search allegedly uncovered the Canadian Loud concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the 40-foot container.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba.
The agency said Ekpe was allegedly impersonating a senior police officer while transporting illicit drugs.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA operatives recovered 292.48kg of skunk concealed inside his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
The agency said preliminary investigation indicated that Ekpe had allegedly been presenting himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints.
A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City.
The raid led to the arrest of 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which it alleged was being used as a cover for storing illicit drugs.
The suspect is expected to face prosecution following further investigation into the seizure.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
According to the agency, the suspects were allegedly transporting more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, alongside codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The drugs were reportedly concealed in eight sacks and were being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In another operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area, three suspects — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested.
The agency said they were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The NDLEA also reported several drug seizures in Lagos.
At a residence in Aguda, Surulere, operatives recovered 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg from a suspect identified as Onyeka Ofor.
Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after seven cartons containing 59kg of cannabis were intercepted at a logistics company.
At Apongbo, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, with the agency reporting the recovery of 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, the NDLEA said 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.
The suspects were arrested separately at Barunde and Gombe Main Market.
In Imo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk, according to the agency.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid on a cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The NDLEA said the operation also led to the destruction of a 5,000kg cannabis farm covering two hectares.
The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday.
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The agency said 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm for prosecution.
Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s intelligence-driven approach to combating drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa also called for the continuation of what he described as a balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.
The latest operations highlight the NDLEA’s continued focus on intelligence-led seizures, arrests and enforcement actions against the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across Nigeria.
The NDLEA said investigations into the various seizures and arrests are ongoing, with suspects expected to face prosecution in accordance with the law.
