Drug Bust: NDLEA Seizes ₦900m Worth Of Tramadol, Arrests Suspects In Nationwide Crackdown

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, identified as Farida Nansubuga, after allegedly discovering 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.15 kilogrammes concealed around her pelvic region at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, while attempting to board a flight to Uganda from Terminal 2 of the airport.

The agency disclosed that its operatives intercepted her during a joint passenger-screening exercise with aviation security personnel. A subsequent search reportedly raised suspicions that she was concealing illegal substances, prompting officers to conduct a more detailed examination in a private room.

The search allegedly uncovered 87 wraps of cocaine strapped around her pelvic region beneath two layers of underwear.

During interrogation, Nansubuga reportedly told investigators that she arrived in Nigeria on October 29 with members of her church for a prayer programme at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), located in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos.

She allegedly remained in the country after the other members of the delegation returned to Uganda, claiming she had been asked by a friend identified as Joy to collect the drug consignment.

According to her account, Joy connected her with an individual in Nigeria who arranged her transportation to a hotel on the day of her departure. She reportedly claimed that a man at the hotel handed her the cocaine and instructed her to conceal it beneath her clothing.

The suspect further disclosed that she expected to receive at least $1,000 for delivering the consignment, although the exact payment had not been agreed upon.

In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and estimated to be worth ₦900 million. The shipment, which originated from India, was allegedly falsely declared as paracetamol.

The consignment arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Ahmedabad on November 3. A joint examination conducted on November 6 by the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies reportedly revealed that 10 of the 11 cartons contained Tapentadol, while the remaining carton contained paracetamol allegedly used to conceal the prohibited medication.

The agency also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, a cannabis strain weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed inside two wooden sofas in a shipment from Houston, United States.

The consignment arrived aboard a Turkish Airlines flight on November 4. A freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, was subsequently arrested after presenting himself to clear the shipment.

Further investigations reportedly led to the arrest of a 34-year-old Ibadan-based caterer, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, on November 6 when he arrived to collect the package. He allegedly identified a friend, Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun, as the sender.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects over the importation of chemicals allegedly intended for the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis substance. Officers reportedly recovered 1.2 kilogrammes of cannabis and 28.65 kilogrammes of chemicals concealed inside cartons of snacks and detergent.

Other seizures included 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes and allegedly destined for the United Kingdom, as well as 296 tablets of Swinol being transported to Australia.

The agency also intercepted three separate shipments of tramadol intended for the United Kingdom. The consignments comprised 20 capsules from Benin City, 96 capsules from Sapele in Delta State, and 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba, which were reportedly concealed inside female headwear.

Beyond airport and courier operations, the NDLEA disclosed that its operatives carried out several raids and arrests across Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Taraba, Enugu and Delta states.

In Lagos, officers arrested a 32-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ali, at Marine Beach, Apapa, on November 6. The operation reportedly led to the recovery of tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis from a concealed store inside his apartment.

In Ondo State, operatives recovered 1,818 kilogrammes of cannabis contained in 148 bags during a raid along Odofin Road, Uso. They also destroyed a one-hectare cannabis farm in Board Forest and recovered an additional 242 kilogrammes of the substance. A 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan, was arrested during the operation.

In neighbouring Ekiti State, officers apprehended 53-year-old Agbo Paul Peter at Osin Forest, Osin-Ekiti, with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle conveying 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201 kilogrammes along the Auchi-Ibillo Road in Edo State. The driver, 39-year-old Abdulmumid Isah, and a 25-year-old passenger, Danako Godwin, were arrested.

The agency also raided a suspected drug joint on Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, where three individuals were arrested and quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis were recovered.

In Taraba State, three suspects were apprehended with 283 blocks of cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes at a checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area, between November 5 and 6.

In Enugu State, officers arrested 57-year-old Celestine Uzochukwu Ejiakor at the Eke Obinagu checkpoint with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5 kilogrammes. Another suspect, 40-year-old Godwin Shaapera, was arrested at the Ugwuoba checkpoint with 24,000 capsules of tramadol and 697 grammes of ketamine.

The NDLEA also reported additional arrests and seizures in Delta State, where operatives recovered cannabis, cannabis seeds, methamphetamine, tramadol, Rohypnol and nitrous oxide from different suspects.

Meanwhile, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools, religious centres and communities across the country as part of efforts to discourage substance abuse.

Reacting to the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel in the affected commands for their commitment and achievements.

Marwa described the arrest of the Ugandan woman as an indication that international drug trafficking networks could exploit religious activities and international travel to recruit unsuspecting individuals as couriers.

He urged NDLEA personnel across the country to sustain the ongoing operations against drug trafficking and intensify efforts to reduce substance abuse in Nigeria.