Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis, in a nationwide crackdown that yielded illicit drugs with a combined street value of over N3.4 billion.

The latest seizures were recorded in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory, with the operations also leading to the arrest of a man allegedly posing as a senior police officer to move narcotics across state lines.

The NDLEA, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the operations, conducted between September 15 and 18, also resulted in the arrest of three young suspects found with locally fabricated firearms and ammunition in Niger State.

The agency’s latest interdictions come amid intensified efforts to disrupt both the domestic distribution networks and international supply chains feeding Nigeria’s illicit drug market. In recent months, the NDLEA has reported several major seizures involving Canadian Loud, tramadol, methamphetamine, cocaine and other controlled substances at the country’s ports, airports and inland routes. 

One of the major breakthroughs occurred along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, where NDLEA operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe on September 16 with 292.48 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.

According to the agency, preliminary investigation revealed that Ekpe had allegedly been parading himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs across state borders.

A second suspect, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested in connection with the operation.

The case highlights the lengths to which drug trafficking networks are allegedly prepared to go to circumvent law-enforcement checks as the NDLEA continues to target trafficking routes linking the South-East, South-South and other parts of the country.

At the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted what the agency described as one of the major seizures in the latest operation.

The consignment consisted of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of N1.811 billion.

According to Babafemi, the 40-foot container, shipped from Montreal, Canada, arrived on September 12 and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.

He said a joint physical examination involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16 uncovered the cannabis concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles.

The seizure underscores the continuing use of legitimate maritime cargo channels to conceal high-value narcotics. The NDLEA has recorded several substantial Canadian Loud seizures at Lagos ports this year, including a 4,173.5 kilogrammes consignment valued at more than N10.4 billion in May and another 4,959 kilogrammes shipment in June. 

In Benin City, Edo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road and arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.

Babafemi said the mechanic had allegedly been using the workshop as a cover for storing illicit drugs.

He noted that recovered from the premises were 48 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud and 152 grammes of methamphetamine, as well as a metal box used for storing the substances.

The largest opioid seizure in the latest operations was recorded along the Abaji-Abuja Highway, where NDLEA operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25.

The pair were allegedly transporting more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, alongside codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.

The drugs were concealed in eight sacks reportedly travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

In another Lagos operation, Onyeka Ofor was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

NDLEA operatives also intercepted seven cartons containing 59kg of cannabis sativa at a logistics company in Lagos, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe.

At Apongbo, another suspect, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, was arrested with 998.38 kilogrammes of nitrous oxide gas.

The crackdown also yielded a firearms recovery in Niger State.

Three young men — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested on September 15 along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.

NDLEA operatives reportedly recovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, as well as a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed inside a black travel bag.

The recovery adds a security dimension to the latest drug operations, particularly because the suspects were intercepted along a major highway connecting the Federal Capital Territory and northern Nigeria.

In Gombe State, 154,480 tramadol capsules were recovered from two suspects, 27-year-old Sabi’u Umar and 19-year-old Hassana Muhammad, arrested separately at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market.

In Imo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.

Ondo State also recorded a major cannabis operation after operatives raided a two-hectare cannabis farm in the Ita-Ogbolu forest.

The operation, conducted on September 15, led to the arrest of Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday, while about 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed.

A further 48k kilogrammes of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm for use as evidence in the prosecution of the suspects.

Beyond interdiction, the agency said its commands continued with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign during the week, taking drug-prevention messages to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

Commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged them to sustain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.