NDLEA seizes over 1.1m Tramadol pills, arrests teenagers with guns in nationwide raids

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recovered more than 1.1 million tramadol tablets and capsules, seized illegal firearms, and arrested several suspected drug traffickers during coordinated operations across Niger, Abuja, Lagos, Gombe, Imo, and Ondo states.

The NDLEA disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Babafemi said NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State arrested three suspects – Bashir Usman, 20, Abubakar Nuhu, 18, and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 – on September 15.

Babafemi listed items recovered from the suspects to include two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles with a magazine, a locally made pistol with its magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

He said the anti-narcotic officers, in another operation along the Abaji-Abuja Highway on September 18, arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, with over 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets hidden inside eight sacks.

He noted that the illicit consignment was being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

NDLEA intercepts N3.4bn drugs, nabs fake police officer

In Lagos State, the NDLEA spokesman said operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, where they recovered 48,900 pills of Tramadol 225mg.

According to him, the agency also intercepted seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59 kilograms at a logistics company and arrested a suspect, Luke Ugokwe, in connection with the consignment.

In a separate operation in the state, Ibrahim Hudu, 43, was apprehended at Apongbo with 998.38 kilograms of nitrous oxide gas, popularly known as laughing gas.

In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives recovered 154,480 tramadol capsules from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market, respectively.

Similarly, a 25-year-old suspect, Ifesinachi Godwin, was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State with 43.85 kilograms of skunk.

In Ondo State, Babafemi revealed that four suspects – Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday, and Ability Peter Sunday – were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.

Babafemi added that the operation led to the destruction of about 5,000 kilograms of skunk, while an additional 48 kilograms of dry and fresh cannabis were recovered as exhibits for prosecution.