NDLEA Seizes 7.6 Million Tramadol Pills, Over 76 Tonnes Of Cannabis In Nationwide Crackdown

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and a total of 76,273.4 kilogrammes of various strains of cannabis, including Colorado, Loud, and Skunk, in a series of intelligence-driven operations across the country.

Several members of suspected drug trafficking organisations linked to the seizures have also been arrested.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, not less than 3,874,000 tramadol tablets of 225mg and 100mg strengths, alongside 252.2 litres of codeine syrup, were recovered from a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba, Delta State, on Saturday, 6th December 2025.

In a related operation, officers on patrol along Orogwe, on the Onitsha–Owerri Road in Imo State, intercepted a vehicle loaded with 1.2 million tramadol 225mg pills.

The consignment was reportedly loaded in Aba and was en route to Onitsha. The driver, 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha, was arrested.

In Adamawa State, NDLEA personnel on Monday, 1st December, stopped a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Mubi. A total of 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and Exol-5 were found concealed inside jumbo bags mixed with new footwear.

Two suspects — 25-year-old Kabiru Buba and 32-year-old Hamza Abubakar — were arrested.

Another suspect, 27-year-old Mudansir Rabiu, was also arrested along the Zaria–Kano Road with 197,000 Exol-5 tablets.

A special operations unit raided forests in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where 14,654 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed and two suspects — Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26 — were arrested. Similar raids in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area, led to the destruction of 54,300 kilogrammes of cannabis stored in two large warehouses, with a further 28.3 kilogrammes recovered for prosecution.

Following actionable intelligence, operatives also stormed Igoba Forest in Akure North, Ondo State, on Tuesday, 2nd December, recovering 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags of skunk, weighing 5,442 kilogrammes.

Five suspects — Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56 — were arrested.

Additionally, 500 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from a Mercedes Benz van on the Mokwa–Jebba Road in Niger State, with the driver, 46-year-old Amos Yakubu, detained.

In Abuja, 22 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado were intercepted at Abaji Expressway, leading to the arrest of a female receiver, 33-year-old Ali Blessing, through a follow-up operation at Jabi Park.

Another suspect, 39-year-old Aliyu Usman, was arrested along the Kwali–Gwagwalada Expressway with 24 kilogrammes of skunk and 573,500 Exol-5 pills.

In Lagos, operatives recovered 217 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 113 kilogrammes from a suspect, Ezenwa Udoka, at Ladipo Market, Mushin, while 351 kilogrammes of skunk were seized from Izuchukwu Usulor in Onipanu on 5th December.

A separate arrest at Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, led to the seizure of 104.1 kilogrammes of skunk from Susan Okoro on Tuesday, 2nd December.

Similarly, 447.5 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from two vehicles in Agho Forest, Akoko-Edo, Edo State, resulting in the arrest of 56-year-old Dada Adedara Babawibi. Another warehouse raid at Isiefve Community, Ohuwunde Local Government Area, led to the seizure of 315.8 kilogrammes of the drug and the arrest of one suspect, Stanley Obasuwa.

The NDLEA confirmed that its Commands nationwide continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy activities during the week, engaging schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities across multiple states, including Kano, Benue and Rivers.

Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), applauded their contribution to both supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, noting that the Agency’s operational successes remain well recognised.