Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a keg of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, while a separate operation at the Apapa Port, Lagos, led to the seizure of 8,725kg of powdered tramadol valued at over N6.98 billion.
The agency also seized large consignments of cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and other illicit substances in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
The operations resulted in the arrest of several suspects, including an 85-year-old grandmother allegedly found with 179kg of cannabis in Edo State. 
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Friday, October 16, NDLEA operatives intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
A search of her luggage revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed inside a gallon of palm oil.
Fatimah reportedly told the operatives that the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.
At the Apapa Port in Lagos, a joint examination conducted with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies on October 2 uncovered a shipment imported from India and declared as maize starch.
A confirmatory test conducted at the NDLEA forensic laboratory established that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder.
When the consignment was separated from its concealment on Wednesday, October 14, it was found to comprise 349 bags weighing 8,725kg, with an estimated street value of more than N6.98 billion.
At the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Monday, October 12, also discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud, valued at N165 million, during a joint examination of a 40-foot container.
The cannabis was concealed in brown cartons inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle transported in the container.
Meanwhile, a raid at Idumota Market on Wednesday, October 14, led to the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, from whose store operatives recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly.
In Mushin, Lagos, two men, Idowu Daudu, 35, and Ahmed Oniyinde, 35, were arrested on October 15 with 59.95kg and 61.23kg of skunk respectively.
Also in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a truck conveying illicit drugs along Iyana Oba after leaving Trade Fair Market.
The loading manager, Tajudeen Adeduntan, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.
85-year-old woman among Edo arrests
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects and recovering cannabis and other illicit substances.
Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179kg of skunk at Warake.
Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, arrested with 220.8kg of cannabis; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.
Cannabis farm destroyed in Ondo
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, October 17, raided a cannabis farm at Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest and destroyed 7,500kg of skunk cultivated on three hectares.
Five suspects — Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35 — were arrested.
The operation also led to the recovery of 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh cannabis stems, bringing the total recovered exhibits to 1,281kg.
In Owo, operatives on Friday, October 16, tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to a hideout in Ameyinti, where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.
Massive opioid seizures in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna
In Bauchi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon belonging to Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on Wednesday, October 14.
The search led to the recovery of 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.
The same day, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.
In Kano State, two suspects, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
The following day, 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
In Kaduna, a raid at Kayimi village led to the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48; Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29; and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5kg of cannabis.
At Food Palace, Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, John Ayo David, 39, was arrested with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike in the Utako area on Saturday, October 17, with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
NDLEA intensifies anti-drug campaign
Beyond interdiction operations, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The campaigns were held in schools and institutions across Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Rivers, Edo and Kano states, among others.
Commending the officers and men of the Apapa, Tin Can, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kano and FCT Commands, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the intelligence-driven operations against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa also charged officers across the country to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement with prevention, sensitisation and public awareness.
