The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, along with approximately 6,000kg of cannabis, during operations conducted across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The combined street value of these seizures exceeds N3.4 billion.
In a major operation at Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, the agency also seized 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81 billion. This was disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.
According to Babafemi, the shipment—which arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12—was placed under close surveillance after the agency received credible intelligence. A joint physical examination of the container with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16 led to the discovery of the concealed drugs. The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud hidden inside 31 black jumbo bags, loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles within a 40-foot container.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs. Ekpe was apprehended on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his Toyota Sienna bus. Investigations revealed that Ekpe had been using a forged identity card,
