NDLEA Seizes ₦6.98bn Tramadol Shipment, Intercepts Saudi Bound Cannabis in Kano.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol valued at more than ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos, while also foiling an attempt to smuggle cannabis to Saudi Arabia through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.

The seizures formed part of a series of nationwide anti drug operations that resulted in the recovery of large quantities of controlled substances and the arrest of multiple suspects across several states. According to reports published on October 18 and 19, 2026, the operations covered Lagos, Kano, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.

Cannabis Concealed in Palm Oil at Kano Airport

According to the NDLEA, operatives intercepted a female passenger identified as Fatimah Ahmad on Friday, October 16, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight travelling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A search reportedly uncovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed inside a gallon of palm oil she was carrying.

The agency said Ahmad told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, had given her the container. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

The interception highlights the methods drug traffickers may use to conceal prohibited substances in ordinary household items in an attempt to evade security screening at international travel points.

₦6.98 Billion Tramadol Shipment Discovered in Lagos

In a separate operation at Apapa Port, Lagos, NDLEA operatives working alongside the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies uncovered a shipment of powdered tramadol imported from India.

The cargo, which was declared as maize starch, was examined on October 2. Subsequent laboratory analysis by the NDLEA confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder.

The consignment was later separated from its concealment on October 14 and found to comprise 349 bags with a combined weight of 8,725 kilograms. The agency estimated its street value at more than ₦6.98 billion.

The discovery underscores continuing concerns about the use of commercial cargo shipments to move controlled substances across international borders. It also highlights the importance of cooperation between drug enforcement authorities, customs officials and port security agencies in detecting suspicious consignments.

Further Seizures Across Several States

The NDLEA also reported additional seizures during operations in Lagos State. At Tin Can Island Port, officers discovered 55 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a cannabis strain, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in a 40-foot container. The agency valued the consignment at ₦165 million.

In another Lagos operation, officers reportedly recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from a store at Idumota Market. Separate operations in Mushin and along the Iyana Oba axis resulted in further cannabis and tramadol seizures.

In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids in communities within Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16. Among those arrested was an 85-year-old woman, Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilograms of cannabis in Warake.

Meanwhile, operations in Ondo State led to the destruction of cannabis cultivated across three hectares of land in a forest area identified by the agency as Okemoro Isinbode Camp. The NDLEA estimated that approximately 7,500 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed, while additional quantities were recovered and five suspects arrested.

In Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, officers also reported the recovery of substantial quantities of tramadol, other pharmaceutical substances and cannabis. Additional seizures were recorded in Abuja, according to the agency’s account.

Implications for Nigeria’s Drug Control Efforts

The latest operations demonstrate the scale and geographic spread of the challenges facing Nigeria’s drug control authorities. The reported seizures involved international cargo shipments, airport passengers, local distribution networks and cannabis cultivation sites.

Tramadol is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain, but its misuse and distribution outside authorized medical channels can pose serious health risks, including dependence and potentially fatal overdose. Cannabis and other controlled substances also raise public health and law enforcement concerns when produced, transported or distributed illegally.

The interception of the Apapa shipment is particularly significant because of its size and reported street value. Preventing such consignments from reaching unauthorized markets can help disrupt trafficking networks, although the long-term impact depends on sustained enforcement, effective prosecution and measures to prevent the re-emergence of those networks.

The Kano airport interception also highlights the importance of screening procedures and intelligence-led operations at international travel points.

The NDLEA has continued to conduct enforcement operations alongside public awareness activities intended to discourage drug abuse and trafficking. However, enforcement alone cannot resolve the wider problem. Public education, access to treatment for substance-use disorders, stronger border controls and cooperation between relevant agencies remain important components of an effective national response.

As investigations continue, the cases will require appropriate legal processes to establish individual responsibility and allegations do not, by themselves, establish guilt.