NDLEA Uncovers Cannabis in Palm Oil Bound for Saudi, Recovers ₦6.98bn Tramadol

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced significant drug interdictions, including the arrest of a female passenger attempting to smuggle cannabis to Saudi Arabia and the seizure of powdered tramadol valued at over ₦6.98 billion.

At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, NDLEA operatives apprehended Fatimah Ahmad on Friday, October 16, 2026. She was attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa, when a gallon of palm oil in her possession was found to contain 511.75 grammes of cannabis parcels. Fatimah informed officers that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the gallon, leading to his immediate arrest at the airport car park.

In a separate major operation, the agency, through its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that 8,725 kilograms of powdered tramadol, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion, were discovered during a search of a consignment at the Apapa Port in Lagos State.

According to the agency's statement, a joint examination conducted with the Customs Service and other relevant agencies at the APM terminals in Apapa on October 2, 2026, revealed a substantial shipment of powdered tramadol originating from India, which had been falsely declared as maize starch. A subsequent forensic analysis by the NDLEA laboratory confirmed the substance to be tramadol hydrochloride powder. When the concealment was removed on Wednesday, October 14, it amounted to 349 bags.

Further operations across the country saw the NDLEA seize thousands of kilograms of cannabis and considerable quantities of opioids in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, and Kaduna states, resulting in numerous arrests.

At the Tincan Port in Lagos, on Monday, October 12, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Customs and other agencies, uncovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, worth ₦165 million. The illicit drugs were found concealed in brown cartons inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle, which was being transported within a 40-foot container.

In Idumota market, Lagos, a raid on Wednesday, October 14, led to the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu. Operatives recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her shop. The following day, Thursday, October 15, two 35-year-old men, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in Mushin, Lagos, with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk, respectively.

Another intelligence-led operation in Lagos on Thursday, October 15, resulted in the interception of a truck carrying illicit drug consignments from the Trade Fair market along Iyana Oba. Two suspects, Tajudeen Adeduntan, the loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested. A search of the truck revealed 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg, ingeniously hidden in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives conducted raids in Warake, Ivhiaro, and Ewe/Irue communities of Owan East LGA between October 15 and 16. Six suspects were apprehended, including 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, found with 179kg of skunk in Warake; Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg in Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100g; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol, and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grams of loud.

Ondo State also saw significant action on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when operatives raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest. They destroyed 7,500kg of skunk across three hectares and arrested five suspects. Recovered exhibits included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds, and 3kg of fresh stems, totaling 1,281kg. In the Owo area on Friday, October 16, operatives trailed 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout in Ameyinti, seizing 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.

In Bauchi State, on Wednesday, October 14, NDLEA officers intercepted Shamsu Garba, 35, in his Volkswagen Golf wagon car at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA, recovering 894,800 tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets. On the same day, operatives on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road discovered 291 blocks of cannabis, weighing 265kg, in an abandoned car at Tudun Natsira village.