Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, along with 6,000 kilograms of cannabis strains, with a total estimated street value of ₦3.4 billion.
The sweeps were executed across eight states, Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The revelations were made in an official statement released in Abuja on Sunday, September 20, 2026, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Operatives conducted a joint inspection in the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the Nigeria Customs Service on a 40-foot container that arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12.
Officers recovered 1,200 parcels of synthetic cannabis known as “Canadian Loud,” weighing 603.75 kg and valued at ₦1.81 billion, hidden inside 31 black jumbo bags in two Toyota Sienna vehicles.
Same day in Asaba, Delta state, NDLEA officers along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway arrested Innocent Ekpe (49) and his alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph (39). Ekpe was caught with 292.48 kg of skunk in his Toyota Sienna bus.
Investigations revealed Ekpe had been impersonating a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) using a fake ID card under the name “Godwin Emeka” to bypass checkpoints.
On Friday, Sept 18, along the Abaji-Abuja highway, Operatives also intercepted Aminu Isyaku (23) and Jamilu Habibu (25) transporting over 1.1 million pills and capsules of tramadol, codeine syrup, methamphetamine, and Exol tablets in eight sacks from Onitsha, Anambra State, bound for Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
Acting on intelligence in Benin City, Edo state, officers raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road and arrested mechanic Matthew Ossai (45). The workshop was allegedly used as a storage front, yielding 48 kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine.
Operatives raided and destroyed a two-hectare cannabis farm containing roughly 5,000 kg of skunk in Ita-Ogbolu forest, Ondo State, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Four suspects, Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday, and Ability Peter Sunday, were arrested, with 48 kg of fresh and dried cannabis secured as evidence.
Onyeka Ofor was arrested in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 tramadol (225mg) pills; Luke Ugokwe was apprehended following the interception of 59 kg of cannabis at a logistics company; Ibrahim Hudu (43) was arrested at Apongbo with 998.38 kg of nitrous oxide gas.
Gombe State: Sabi’u Umar (27) and Hassana Muhammad (19) were arrested in Barunde and Gombe Main Market with 154,480 tramadol capsules. Ifesinachi Godwin (25) was intercepted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85 kg of skunk.
Chachi, Tafa LGA, Niger State (Tuesday, Sept 15): Three teenagers were arrested on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway carrying two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a pistol, magazines, and ammunition concealed in a travel bag.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the officers across the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo, and FCT commands for their professional, intelligence-led execution.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to cutting off supply chains and maintaining drug supply reduction efforts nationwide alongside the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programs.
