NDLEA Intercepts Saudi-bound Cannabis, Seizes N7bn Tramadol At Lagos Port
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound cannabis consignment concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and seized 8,725 kilogrammes of…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) routinely conducts operations at Nigeria's international airports and seaports to intercept narcotics being smuggled in and out of the country, with couriers often concealing drugs in food items, luggage and cargo to evade detection. Tramadol, an opioid painkiller, remains one of the most trafficked pharmaceutical drugs in Nigeria and West Africa, both for local abuse and export to markets in the Sahel and Gulf states, while cannabis continues to be smuggled through creative methods such as being hidden inside everyday household items like palm oil containers.
The reports agree on the two key seizures: a cannabis consignment destined for Saudi Arabia that was concealed in a gallon of palm oil at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, and a large tramadol shipment valued at nearly N7 billion intercepted at Apapa Port in Lagos. There are minor differences in the figures cited across the coverage, with the value of the tramadol haul reported as either N7bn or ₦6.98bn, and Channels TV providing the specific weight of the cannabis found — 511.75 grammes. None of the reports have yet disclosed details such as the suspects' identities, their nationality, or whether arrests have led to prosecution.