The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made major breakthroughs in its ongoing operations against drug trafficking cartels, recovering more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and over 76,000 kilograms of cannabis varieties—including Colorado, Loud, and Skunk—in coordinated raids across Delta, Imo, Adamawa, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Niger, the FCT and Edo States.

According to the agency, intelligence-driven operations in Asaba on December 6 led to the discovery of a warehouse at Oko Market containing 3.8 million tramadol tablets and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup. In Imo State, operatives intercepted a vehicle at Orogwe on December 3, recovering 1.2 million tramadol tablets from a 35-year-old suspect, Kelechi Nwakocha, who had transported the consignment from Aba to Onitsha.

In Adamawa State, a patrol team on December 1 intercepted a bus loaded with 1,577,112 tramadol and Exol-5 capsules concealed in bags of rubber sandals. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba and Hamza Abubakar, were arrested. Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, was apprehended along the Zaria–Kano road with 197,000 Exol-5 tablets.

NDLEA’s special operations unit also carried out extensive forest raids. In Omuo-Ekiti, operatives destroyed 14,654kg of cannabis farms and arrested two suspects. A separate operation in Ikole LGA on December 2 led to the destruction of 54,300kg of cannabis in two large warehouses, with 28.3kg preserved as evidence. More seizures continued in Ondo State, where 5,442kg of compressed cannabis was recovered from the Igoba forest and five suspects were arrested.

The crackdown extended across the country. In Niger State, 500kg of cannabis was recovered from a Mercedes-Benz van, while in Abuja, operatives intercepted 22kg of Colorado on the Abaji expressway and arrested a female receiver at Jabi Park. Another suspect was caught with 24kg of cannabis and over 573,000 Exol-5 tablets along the Kwali–Gwagwalada axis.

In Lagos, officers seized 113kg of Canadian Loud from a suspect at Ladipo Market, 351kg from another individual at Onipanu, and 104.1kg from a woman at the Trade Fair Complex. Edo State also recorded two major seizures amounting to 447.5kg and 315.8kg of skunk, with suspects arrested in both locations.

Across its formations nationwide, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes in schools and communities, including engagements in Kano, Benue, and Rivers States.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers across all commands involved, praising their sustained pressure on drug networks and their combined efforts in both drug supply and demand reduction.