By Nkechi Eze
In one of the most sweeping nationwide operations of the year, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized more than 7.6 million pills of tramadol and over 76,273 kilograms of assorted psychoactive cannabis strains, including Colorado, Loud and Skunk, during coordinated raids across Delta, Imo, Adamawa, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, Edo, Niger and the FCT. The Agency also destroyed multiple illicit drug warehouses hidden deep within forest belts in Ekiti and Ondo States, arresting several members of Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) connected to the shipments.
Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a signed statement that the crackdown was carried out by NDLEA commands and special units in a series of intelligence-driven offensives targeting major drug routes, storage facilities and distribution networks.
According to the statement, a significant portion of the opioids 3,874,000 pills of tramadol 225mg and 100mg, alongside 252.2 litres of codeine syrup was intercepted on Saturday, 6 December 2025, inside a major warehouse at the Oko Market area of Asaba, Delta State. In a related operation in Imo State on 3 December, operatives patrolling the Onitsha–Owerri highway intercepted Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, with 1.2 million tramadol tablets concealed in a vehicle transporting goods from Aba to Onitsha.
In Adamawa State, officers on patrol along the Maraba–Mubi axis on 1 December intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus loaded with 1,577,112 tramadol and Exol-5 capsules, hidden in jumbo bags mixed with new sandals. Two suspects Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32 were arrested. Similarly, along the Zaria–Kano road, operatives apprehended Mudansir Rabiu, 27, with 197,000 Exol-5 pills.
The Agency also expanded its offensive into forested drug hubs. In Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, NDLEA stormed illicit plantations and storage sites, destroying 14,654kg of skunk and arresting Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26. A follow-up operation in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, led to the destruction of 54,300kg of cannabis stored in two vast forest warehouses, while 28.3kg was preserved for court exhibits.
In Ondo State, actionable intelligence guided operatives into the Igoba forest of Akure North, where they recovered 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags of skunk, weighing 5,442kg, and arrested five suspects: Jacob Omodowo, 66; Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24; Babatunde Olamide, 40; Echi Fidelis Joseph, 57; and Ankrah Akano, 56.
Across other regions, the operations continued with equal intensity. Officers in Niger State seized 500kg of skunk from a Mercedes Benz van along the Mokwa–Jebba highway, arresting the driver, Amos Yakubu, 46. In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA intercepted 22kg of Colorado synthetic cannabis along the Abaji expressway, arresting the receiver, Ali Blessing, 33, at Jabi Park. Another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested along the Kwali–Gwagwalada expressway with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 Exol-5 pills.
In Lagos, operatives recovered 113kg of Canadian Loud from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo Market, while Izuchukwu Usulor was arrested with 351kg of skunk in Onipanu. At the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Susan Okoro was apprehended with 104.1kg of cannabis.
In Edo State, NDLEA discovered 447.5kg of skunk abandoned in two Honda vehicles inside Agho forest, Akoko Edo LGA, leading to the arrest of Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56. Another raid in the Isiefve community of Ohuwunde LGA resulted in the seizure of 315.8kg of cannabis and arrest of a suspect, Stanley Obasuwa.
While intensifying supply-reduction operations, the Agency also continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign with lectures in schools and communities in Kano, Benue and Rivers States, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across all participating formations for their “balanced and relentless execution of supply and demand reduction strategies,” noting that the latest seizures demonstrate the Agency’s unwavering resolve to dismantle drug cartels and safeguard communities.
