By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 85-year-old grandmother with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State and intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The arrests and seizures formed part of a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which also led to the recovery of large quantities of tramadol, cannabis, diazepam and other illicit substances.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the Saudi-bound cannabis was intercepted on Friday, October 16, 2026, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa.
The suspect, identified as Fatimah Ahmad, was found with 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil. She reportedly told NDLEA operatives that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the container, leading to his arrest at the airport car park.
In another major operation, NDLEA operatives uncovered 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol, valued at over N6.98 billion, at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The shipment, imported from India and declared as maize starch, was discovered during a joint examination involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies. Laboratory tests confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder, which was subsequently separated from its concealment on October 14.
At the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, officers also discovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at N165 million, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle in a 40-foot container.
Further operations in Lagos led to the arrest of Elizabeth Chidera Kalu at Idumota Market, where 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly were recovered from her store.
Two other suspects, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, both aged 35, were arrested in Mushin with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of cannabis, respectively. Along Iyana Oba, operatives intercepted a truck conveying illicit drugs and recovered 18,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide. Two suspects, Tajudeen Adeduntan and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested.
In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids in Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16.
The 85-year-old suspect, Grace Ehimeka, was arrested in Warake with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis. Other recoveries included 220.8 kilogrammes from Ayo Aigberadion, 5.852 kilogrammes from Ali Garba, 100 grammes from Habib Braimoh, two kilogrammes of cannabis alongside other substances from Musa Mubid, and 237 grammes of Canadian Loud from Hope Okoro.
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode Camp Forest on October 17, destroying 7,500 kilogrammes of cannabis cultivated on three hectares of land. Five suspects were arrested, while 1,267 kilogrammes of processed cannabis, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems were recovered.
A separate operation in Owo led to the arrest of 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi at his hideout in Ameyinti, where 375 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized.
In Bauchi State, officers intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon at Ragwam village, Katagum Local Government Area, recovering 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets from 35-year-old Shamsu Garba. Another operation along the Bauchi-Gombe Road led to the recovery of 265 kilogrammes of cannabis from an abandoned vehicle.
In Kano, two suspects, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg. Another suspect, 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu, was arrested at Niger Street, Malam Kato, with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.
The agency also recovered 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis during a raid at Kayimi village in Kaduna State, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Another suspect, John Ayo David, was arrested on Ali Akilu Road with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In Abuja, operatives arrested 42-year-old Odo Jonas Ejike at Utako on October 17 with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.
Beyond enforcement, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across several states, including Oyo, Gombe, Lagos, Kogi, Cross River, Rivers, Edo and Kano.
Commending officers and men of the affected commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged personnel nationwide to sustain the offensive against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa also called for continued implementation of the agency’s balanced drug-control strategy, combining enforcement with public enlightenment and drug abuse prevention initiatives.
