The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 171,000 capsules of tramadol in separate operations across Niger, Benue, and Taraba states.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA operatives in Niger State on Thursday, November 6, arrested Ibrahim Mohammed, 35, along the Kainji–Wawa Road while conveying 87,000 tramadol pills and 72 kilograms of skunk in a Volvo truck marked GRZ 872 XA.
He added that another 34,520 capsules of tramadol were discovered concealed in different compartments of a Toyota Corolla (GAN 102 AR) intercepted along the Zaki-Biam–Wukari Road on Monday, November 3. The driver, Aliyu Samaila, 25, was arrested.
The agency explained that the opioids were loaded in Onitsha, Anambra State, and were being transported to Cameroon.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives on November 6 arrested Felix Tanko Chinedu, 28, at Kasuwabera ATC, Ardo Kola Local Government Area, with 15,020 tramadol capsules in his possession.
Similarly, a wanted drug kingpin, Yussuf Azeez, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.
The NDLEA said Azeez had previously faced drug-related charges in the United Kingdom before fleeing to Nigeria, where he allegedly established a clandestine laboratory in Lekki, Lagos, for the production of Colorado — a potent synthetic strain of cannabis — and other illicit substances.
Following his arrest, NDLEA operatives raided the laboratory located at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki, dismantling the facility and recovering 148.3 kilograms of Colorado and precursor chemicals used for its production.
In a related development, a joint NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service operation on November 7 at the Sifax Bonded Terminal, Okota, Lagos, uncovered 105.5 kilograms of Molly (a designer drug) and 500 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a consignment.
Babafemi said other coordinated operations across the country also led to several arrests and seizures, describing them as part of a nationwide effort to dismantle drug trafficking networks and raise public awareness about substance abuse.
He added that the agency recently uncovered a new cannabis variant known as “California Loud” after dismantling another illicit laboratory in Lagos.
Commenting on the latest breakthroughs, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers for their diligence and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining the war against drug trafficking.
“The dismantling of yet another clandestine laboratory for the production of Colorado and other dangerous synthetic substances, and the arrest of the kingpin behind it, demonstrate that our operations against merchants of death are ongoing. Those still hiding should know that the NDLEA will continue to hunt them and bring them to justice,” Marwa said.