Photo : Some of the 1.6 million tramadol pills intercepted by NDLEA from two trailers along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on July 2 and 4, 2026
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted two long trailers smuggling One Million Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg into Lagos, in a major breakthrough against a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The intelligence-led operation came barely a week after operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol from the false bottom compartment of another truck that entered Lagos through the same route. According to the agency, the latest seizures were made on 2nd July and 4th July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
On 2nd July, NDLEA officers tracked and located one of the trucks heading to Kano. They recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor and arrested the 22-year-old driver, Jabir Kabiru. Two days later, operatives intercepted the second trailer also bound for Kano, evacuating 777,000 pills and arresting the driver, 22-year-old Muhammed Nuhu.
Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria. NDLEA said the drugs were hidden in specially fabricated compartments to evade detection across multiple borders.
In a separate operation at the import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, NDLEA also intercepted two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing a combined 4.70 kilograms. The cargoes arrived from Canada in cartons boldly marked ‘Odugwu’ aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the airport seizure. Cargo agents Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga were initially picked up, while Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, who showed up to collect the consignments, was also nabbed. The actual owner, 44-year-old businesswoman Chioma Nneka Mokeme, was arrested on 7th July 2026 in collaboration with Area C Command, Nigeria Police, Surulere. Chioma, who claims to be in the printing business, said her friend Agbons Collins, based in Canada, introduced her to the trade.
NDLEA Chairman Maj.Gen Buba Marwa ( Rtd) said the agency remains committed to dismantling drug cartels and blocking all entry routes into Nigeria. He warned that both land and air borders are under intense surveillance and urged Nigerians to provide useful information. All suspects are in custody and will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
