The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a significant haul of illicit drugs, including over 7.6 million tramadol pills and a massive 76,273.4 kilograms of various cannabis strains such as Colorado, Loud, and Skunk. These substantial seizures were made during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted across several states in the first week of December, leading to the arrest of multiple individuals linked to drug trafficking organizations.

According to a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, these coordinated raids targeted key distribution networks and storage facilities nationwide. The operations highlighted the NDLEA's relentless efforts in both drug supply reduction and demand reduction through its "War Against Drug Abuse" (WADA) initiative.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives recovered a staggering 3,874,000 pills of tramadol (comprising 225mg and 100mg doses) and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup from a warehouse located at Oko market in Asaba. This raid, conducted on December 6, dealt a major blow to the opioid supply chain in the region. Following this, in Imo State, approximately 1.2 million tablets of tramadol 225mg were intercepted on December 3 from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along the Onitsha-Owerri road. The consignment, loaded in Aba, Abia State, was en route to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Further operations in Adamawa State on December 1 led to the interception of a Toyota Hiace bus, marked MGU 554 XB, traveling from Jos to Mubi along the Maraba-Mubi Road. The bus was found to be carrying a total of 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets, ingeniously concealed within jumbo bags mixed with new rubber sandals and slippers. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were apprehended in connection with this seizure. Similarly, in Kano State, 27-year-old Mudansir Rabiu was arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 197,000 pills of exol-5.

The agency also launched extensive raids on cannabis cultivation sites and storage facilities. In Ekiti State, special operations units stormed forests in Omuo-Ekiti, where they destroyed 14,654 kilograms of skunk and arrested two suspects, Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26. Another significant operation on December 2 saw operatives raid forests in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area, resulting in the destruction of 54,300 kilograms of skunk in two large warehouses. An additional 28.3 kilograms of the psychoactive substance were recovered for prosecution.

Ondo State also witnessed major interdictions, with NDLEA operatives raiding Igoba Forest in Akure North LGA on December 2. They recovered 2,483 compressed blocks of skunk and 247 bags of the same substance, totaling 5,442 kilograms. Five suspects were arrested in this operation: Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56. In Niger State, 500 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a Mercedes-Benz van, marked MGU 614 XB, along the Mokwa-Jebba Road on December 4, leading to the arrest of the driver, Amos Yakubu, 46.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on December 3, 22 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, were intercepted along the Abaji Expressway. A follow-up operation at Jabi Park led to the arrest of the female receiver, Ali Blessing, 33. On December 5, another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested along the Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway with 24 kilograms of skunk and 573,500 pills of exol-5.

Lagos State also featured prominently in the operations, with NDLEA operatives recovering 113 kilograms of Canadian Loud (217 pouches) from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo Market, Mushin. Separately, Izuchukwu Usulor was apprehended with 351 kilograms of skunk at Onipanu on December 5, and Susan Okoro was arrested with 104.1 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, on December 2.

Edo State contributed to the nationwide crackdown, where 447.5 kilograms of skunk were recovered from two Honda Accord cars (marked ABC-678 KK and GGE-772 FB) at Agho Forest, Akoko Edo Local Government Area. Suspect Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56, was arrested. Furthermore, a raid on a warehouse in Isiefve Community, Ohuwunde Local Government Area, resulted in the seizure of 315.8 kilograms of skunk and the arrest of Stanley Obasuwa.

Alongside these robust enforcement activities, the NDLEA continued its WADA sensitization campaigns across schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities in Kano, Benue, and Rivers States, emphasizing a balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction.

Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the officers and men involved in these successful operations across Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger, and Edo Commands. He particularly lauded their operational successes and their balanced approach to reducing both drug supply and demand. The Agency affirmed that investigations are currently ongoing, and all arrested suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.