Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted more than 1.3 million capsules of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000kg of cannabis and other illicit substances worth over ₦3.4 billion in a series of operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The operations, carried out between September 15 and 18, 2026, also led to the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker who was impersonating a senior police officer to evade security checkpoints, as well as a mechanic accused of using his workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba on September 16, after finding 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
Investigations revealed that Ekpe had been posing as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and using a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
The biggest single seizure involved 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 603.75kg and valued at about ₦1.81 billion.
The consignment was intercepted at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos after NDLEA operatives placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.
A joint physical examination of the container on September 16, involving NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, uncovered the cannabis concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles.
In Edo State, operatives arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai at his auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, where 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered at a workshop being used as a cover for storing illicit drugs.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects; Bashir Usman, 20, Abubakar Nuhu, 18, and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.
The suspects were found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
On the Abaji-Abuja Highway, two suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The drugs were concealed in eight sacks being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, where 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.
Another 59kg of cannabis sativa packed in seven cartons was intercepted at a logistics company, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
In a separate operation at Apongbo, Lagos, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
Meanwhile, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market respectively.
In Imo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
Four other suspects; Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday, were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest, Ondo State.
The agency said about 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed at the farm, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for prosecution.