According to a statement issued by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and signed by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, operatives of the agency have intercepted over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 6,000 kilograms of potent strains of cannabis, with a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion, in a series of operations across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.
Top among the successful operations was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 603.75 kilograms and an estimated value of N1.811 billion.
The operation also led to the arrest of a trafficker who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
The 49-year-old suspect, Innocent Ekpe, was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by NDLEA operatives along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48 kilograms of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
According to the agency, investigation established that Ekpe had long paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged identification card to escape scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit consignments. An alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence stormed a location on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai, who allegedly used his auto-repair workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs.
Officers recovered 48 kilograms of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine, along with a metal box used to store the illicit substances.
At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, which arrived on September 12, was placed under intensive monitoring by NDLEA operatives based on processed intelligence.
The shipment was subsequently subjected to a full joint physical examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday, September 16.
The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75 kilograms, concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded within two Toyota Sienna vehicles in the container.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area, on Tuesday, September 15, arrested three young suspects identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18.
The suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
Two other suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested by NDLEA officers along the Abaji-Abuja Highway on Friday, September 18.
More than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets concealed in eight sacks were recovered from the suspects. The consignment was reportedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, a suspect identified as Onyeka Ofor was arrested on Friday, September 18, at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59 kilograms were also intercepted at a logistics company, with a suspect, Luke Ugokwe, taken into custody.
In another operation in Lagos, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested at Apongbo on Thursday, September 17, with 998.38 kilograms of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, a total of 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market respectively on Friday, September 18.
A suspect, Ifesinachi Godwin, 25, was also arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State with 43.85 kilograms of skunk on Friday, September 18.
In Ondo State, four suspects identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday were arrested during a raid and destruction of a 5,000-kilogramme cannabis farm located in Ita-Ogbolu forest on Tuesday, September 15.
No fewer than 48 kilograms of dry and fresh cannabis were recovered from the location for the prosecution of the suspects.
Meanwhile, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
The activities included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command of the NDLEA also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State, among other engagements.
While commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged officers across the country to maintain the agency’s current approach to drug control efforts.
