NDLEA busts drug rings, seizes 7.6m tramadol pills, 76,000kg cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and over 76,273 kilograms of cannabis in a series of coordinated, intelligence-led operations across the country.

The raids, carried out between December 1 and 6, also led to the destruction of major drug warehouses in forested areas of Ekiti and Ondo states and the arrest of several members of drug trafficking networks.

In Delta State, operatives recovered 3.87 million tramadol pills along with 252.2 litres of codeine syrup from a warehouse at Oko Market in Asaba.

In Imo State, officers intercepted 1.2 million tablets of tramadol 225mg from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along the Onitsha–Owerri Road.

The consignment was reportedly loaded in Aba and was destined for Onitsha.

Further north, NDLEA personnel in Adamawa State intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus loaded with more than 1.5 million tramadol and Exol-5 capsules concealed inside jumbo bags of rubber sandals.

The bus was travelling from Jos to Mubi, and two suspects were arrested.

Another suspect was nabbed along the Zaria–Kano Road with 197,000 Exol-5 tablets.

In Ekiti State, special operations units stormed forests in Omuo-Ekiti and Asin-Ekiti, where they destroyed more than 68,900 kilograms of skunk and arrested two suspects.

In Ondo State, operatives raided Igoba Forest in Akure North, recovering a combined 5,442 kilograms of compressed cannabis and arresting five suspects.

Additional arrests and seizures were recorded in Abuja, Lagos, Edo and Niger states.

These included 22 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis; hundreds of thousands of Exol-5 tablets; and several large consignments of Canadian Loud and skunk recovered from vehicles, markets and warehouses.

The NDLEA noted that while enforcement operations intensified nationwide, its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy continued simultaneously in schools, worship centres and communities.

Chairman of the agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across all commands for the successful operations, describing their efforts in curbing drug supply and raising public awareness as exemplary and essential to national security.