NDLEA seizes 1.63m tramadol pills, uncovers cross-border drug trafficking syndicate

By Reporter

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol (250mg) concealed in specially fabricated compartments of two articulated trucks along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, exposing what it described as a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating across the Togo-Benin-Nigeria corridor.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, noting that the latest seizures bring the total quantity of tramadol recovered from the same syndicate to more than 2.18 million pills in three separate operations conducted within one month.

According to the statement, the first trailer was tracked and intercepted on July 2 while heading to Kano.

NDLEA operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol (250mg) hidden in a fabricated compartment beneath the truck’s cargo floor and arrested the 22-year-old driver, Jabir Kabiru.

Two days later, on July 4, intelligence-led operations led to the interception of another trailer, also travelling to Kano on the same highway.

The agency recovered an additional 777,000 pills of tramadol (250mg) concealed in a similar hidden compartment and arrested the driver, Muhammed Nuhu, also aged 22.

Investigations, according to the NDLEA, revealed that the trucks intercepted on June 21, July 2 and July 4, together with their illicit consignments, were all linked to the same international drug trafficking network.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The consignments, concealed inside cartons marked “Odugwu,” arrived from Canada on British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on June 24 and July 3, respectively.

The agency arrested two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, in connection with the shipments before apprehending Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislaus, who attempted to collect the consignments from a logistics company.

Further investigations led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the drugs, Chioma Nneka Mokeme, a 44-year-old businesswoman, on July 7 in Surulere, Lagos, with support from the Nigeria Police Force’s Area C Command.

The agency also arrested Hajara Abdullahi, a 38-year-old Chadian national, and her Nigerian associate, Abdulkareem Jidda, 44, in Apapa, Lagos.

Their arrest followed the interception of 50,000 pills of tramadol (225mg) in Kogi State on July 12, with investigations linking the consignment to the two suspects.

NDLEA also recorded several other seizures during the period.

In Rivers State, operatives arrested 80-year-old Chika Ugwoji in Ahoada on July 14 after recovering 800 grams of skunk from him.

In Edo State, a couple, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and Nwanneka Christian, 33, were arrested during a raid on a drug warehouse along Sapele Road, Benin City.

The operation led to the seizure of 219.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa and 192.67 kilograms of compressed Canadian Loud.

The NDLEA said the operations underscore its sustained crackdown on organised drug trafficking networks and cross-border narcotics syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.