NDLEA intercepts Saudi-bound cannabis in palm oil keg, ₦6.98bn tramadol

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State, with a gallon of palm oil containing parcels of cannabis weighing 511.75 grammes.

She was arrested during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.

The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026, when Fatimah told operatives that the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was promptly arrested at the airport car park.

The NDLEA operatives also discovered 8,725kg of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion in street value during a search of a shipment at the Apapa Port in Lagos State, according to the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday.

“At the Kano airport, NDLEA officers on Friday, 16th October 2026, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, with a gallon of palm oil containing parcels of cannabis weighing 511.75 grammes during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa. Fatimah told operatives the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was promptly arrested at the airport car park,” the agency stated.

In a series of operations across the country, the agency also seized thousands of kilogrammes of cannabis and large quantities of opioids in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, arresting dozens of suspects.

“Following a joint examination with the Customs Service and other agencies at the APM terminals in Apapa, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on 2nd October uncovered a large shipment of powdered tramadol from India, declared as maize starch.

A confirmatory test at the NDLEA forensic laboratory showed the cargo to be tramadol hydrochloride powder. When it was separated from its concealment on Wednesday, 14th October, it came to 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725kg, worth over N6.98 billion.

“In a separate operation at the Tincan port in Lagos on Monday, 12th October, NDLEA officers, in the course of a joint examination of a container with Customs and others, discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud worth N165 million. The drugs were packed in brown cartons and hidden inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveyed in the 40-foot container.

Elsewhere in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 14th October, raided Idumota market where they arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, and recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store. The following day, Thursday 15th October, two 35-year-old men were arrested in the Mushin area of the state: Idowu Daudu, with 59.95kg of skunk, and Ahmed Oniyinde, with 61.23kg of the same substance.

“In another interdiction operation in Lagos, operatives acting on credible intelligence on Thursday, 15th October intercepted a truck coming from Trade Fair market with illicit drug consignments along Iyana Oba.  Two suspects: Tajudeen Adeduntan, the loading manager and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg, concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide,” the statement partly read.

In Edo, NDLEA operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East LGA between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects.

“They include 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, arrested with 179kg of skunk at Warake; Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100g; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grams of loud.”

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the agency said its operatives “raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, Ondo State, and destroyed 7,500kg skunk on three hectares”, where five suspects were arrested

Exhibits recovered included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh stems, a total of 1, 281kg.

“In the Owo area of the state, operatives on Friday, 16th October, trailed 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout in Ameyinti, where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.

“Not less than 894,800 tramadol capsules and exol-5 tablets were recovered from Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA, Bauchi State, when NDLEA officers intercepted his Volkswagen Golf wagon car on Wednesday, 14th October.

“The same day, operatives on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned car at Tudun Natsira village,” among other operations.