NDLEA Intercepts Saudi-Bound Cannabis Hidden in Palm Oil Keg

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a cannabis consignment concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, as a female passenger prepared to board a flight to Saudi Arabia.

The agency recovered 511.75 grammes of cannabis, popularly known as skunk, during the operation on Friday, October 16.

The suspect, Fatimah Ahmad, was undergoing outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah through Addis Ababa when operatives discovered the illicit substance hidden inside the palm oil container.

According to the NDLEA, Ahmad told investigators that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the gallon. Officers subsequently arrested Yahaya at the airport car park.

The interception formed part of a series of nationwide operations that also yielded more than 8.7 tonnes of powdered tramadol at the Apapa port in Lagos.

The tramadol shipment, imported from India and declared as maize starch, had an estimated street value of more than N6.98 billion. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the substance was tramadol hydrochloride powder.

At the Tin Can Island port, operatives also seized 55kg of Canadian Loud, valued at N165 million. They discovered the cannabis inside cartons concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle shipped in a 40-foot container.

The agency extended its operations to other parts of Lagos, where officers recovered thousands of ampoules of diazepam injection, tablets of Molly and large quantities of skunk.

In Edo State, operatives arrested six suspects, including an 85-year-old woman, Grace Ehimeka, who allegedly possessed 179kg of cannabis in Warake, Owan East Local Government Area.

NDLEA officers also destroyed 7,500kg of cannabis at a farm covering three hectares in Ondo State and arrested five suspects. Other operations in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory yielded large quantities of cannabis, tramadol and other controlled substances.

The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for their professionalism and intelligence-led approach.

He urged personnel across the country to sustain pressure on drug trafficking networks while continuing the agency’s drug abuse prevention and public sensitisation programmes.