NDLEA Seizes Over 320,000 Tramadol Pills Hidden in Building Materials

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a large cache of illicit drugs concealed in a truck transporting building materials in Taraba State, leading to the seizure of more than 320,000 tramadol capsules and the arrest of a suspect.

The agency also arrested a 75-year-old man in Ebonyi State and several other suspects, including four women, during separate anti-drug operations carried out across the country.

The developments were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, operatives acted on intelligence reports and intercepted a truck travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo, Taraba State. A detailed search of the vehicle at Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo uncovered a large quantity of drugs hidden beneath a load of building materials.

A 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the consignment.

Recovered from the truck were 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 rohypnol tablets and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

In a separate operation in Ebonyi State, NDLEA operatives arrested 75-year-old Okebe Samuel at Okposi. The agency alleged that the suspect was involved in the retail sale of cannabis to youths in the community and was found with 300 grams of skunk.

The agency said the arrest demonstrated its determination to enforce drug laws without regard to age.

In Imo State, officers raided a drug hideout in Umulolo, Orlu, where a 32-year-old woman, Chioma Okeke, was arrested. During the operation, 8 kilograms of skunk were recovered.

Further arrests were recorded in Edo State, where four suspects, including three women, were apprehended during raids in Benin City on June 2.

At Uyosa, operatives arrested Chioma Igba, 24, and Precious Ozomah, 22, with quantities of skunk, Loud and methamphetamine. Another suspect, Anita Abraham, 21, was arrested along Agbor Road with different variants of Loud, while Henry Okey, 43, was apprehended at Upper Mission with assorted psychotropic substances.

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives arrested 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan in the Kafi area of Madobi and recovered 38 kilograms of skunk from him.

Similarly, in Gombe State, a suspect identified as Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi, 28, was intercepted near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

Beyond enforcement activities, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continued in schools across Oyo, Lagos, Anambra and Kano states as part of efforts to discourage substance abuse among young people.

Reacting to the operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the raids and seizures.

He reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country, stressing that traffickers would continue to be targeted regardless of their age, gender or the methods used to conceal illicit substances.