In a swift operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted two long trailers conveying 1,630,000 pills of tramadol 250mg into Lagos.
It was disclosed in a press release signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja on Sunday 19th July 2026 that parts of a transnational syndicate moving the drug from Togo through Benin Republic into Nigeria has been dismantled
The NDLEA stated that the latest seizures bring to three the number of trucks linked to the same cartel intercepted by the Agency in three weeks along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
According to Femi Babafemi, the intelligence-led operations were carried out on July 2 and July 4, 2026. On July 2, operatives tracked and stopped one of the trailers on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.A search revealed 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg was concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor and 22-year-old driver, Jabir Kabiru, was arrested.
He added that two days later on July 4, a second trailer heading to Kano was also tracked and intercepted on the same expressway. Officers evacuated 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg from a similar hidden compartment and arrested the 22-year-old driver, Muhammed Nuhu.
Ongoing Investigations revealed that both trucks, along with another truck intercepted on June 21 with 558,900 pills of tramadol, belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria .
It was further reported that at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, NDLEA officers intercepted two consignments of “Canadian Loud”, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms
The cargoes arrived from Canada in cartons boldly marked ‘Odugwu’ aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on June 24 and July 3 respectively.
Meanwhile, two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were first arrested. Another suspect,Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, who showed up to take delivery from a logistics company, was also nabbed.
The actual owner of the consignments, 44-year-old businesswoman Chioma Nneka Mokeme was eventually arrested on 7th July, 2026 in collaboration with the Area C Command of the Nigeria Police, Surulere.
It was reported that Chioma, who claims to be into the printing business, said her friend Agbons Collins based in Canada introduced her to the trade.
NDLEA Strengthens Drug Enforcement and Awareness
Moreso, in Rivers State, operatives arrested an 80-year-old grandpa, Chika Ugwoji, on Tuesday, July 14 at Ahoada for carrying 800 grams of skunk.
In Edo State as well, a couple, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and Nwanneka Christian, 33, were arrested on Monday, July 1 during a raid on their drug warehouse along Sapele Road, Benin City.
The Agency recovered 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 219.5kg and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud weighing 192.67kg
In a separate operation, a Chadian woman, Hajara Abdullahi, 38 and her Nigerian accomplice Abdulkarim Jidda, 44, were arrested in Lagos. This followed the interception of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg in Kogi State on Sunday,July 12. The consignment was traced to the two suspects who were later picked up in the Apapa area of Lagos.
However, as part of the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, campaign, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Commands conducted sensitization lectures in the past week at:
- Government Day Junior Secondary School, Bakori, Katsina
- Colliery Technical School, Ngwo, Enugu
- Starlight College, Iganmu Ijora, Lagos
- Community Secondary School, Kono, Rivers
- Odoro High School, Ikole Ekiti
- Government Junior Secondary School, Gabasawa, Kano
The NDLEA boss. Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Commended the Officers of MMIA, Lagos, Rivers, Edo and Kogi Commands. He said their efforts “have contributed in no small measure to ongoing drug control efforts across the country.”
He charged operatives to “remain vigilant at all times” as the Agency intensifies its crackdown on transnational and local drug networks.
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