The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000 kilograms of cannabis, in a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.
The seizures, made between Tuesday, September 15 and Friday, September 18, 2026, had a combined street value of more than ₦3.4 billion and also led to the arrest of several suspects, including a man accused of impersonating a senior police officer and a mechanic allegedly using his workshop to conceal illicit drugs.
One of the biggest breakthroughs came at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 603.75 kilograms and valued at ₦1.811 billion.
The consignment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 in a 40-foot container that was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by the agency.
A joint physical examination involving NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16 uncovered the drugs concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the container.
In Delta State, operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba on September 16, with 292.48 kilograms of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
According to the NDLEA, investigation showed that Ekpe allegedly paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and used a forged police identification card to evade security checks while transporting illicit drug consignments across state lines.
His alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a location along Agbor Road in Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old mechanic Matthew Ossai.
The agency said the auto-repair workshop was allegedly being used as a front for storing illicit drugs. Operatives recovered 48 kilograms of Canadian Loud, 152 grams of methamphetamine and a metal storage box reportedly used to conceal the substances.
The crackdown extended to Niger State, where NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area, arrested three suspects identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18.
The suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a locally made pistol, magazines and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
On the Abaji-Abuja Highway, operatives on September 18 arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, after recovering more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The substances were concealed in eight sacks and were allegedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
Lagos also recorded further seizures. At a residence in Aguda, Surulere, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor and recovered 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg.
In another operation, seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59 kilograms were recovered from a local logistics company, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe. The agency also reported the arrest of Ibrahim Hudu, 43, at Apongbo on September 17, where 998.38 kilograms of illicit nitrous oxide gas, popularly known as laughing gas, was seized.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives recovered a combined 154,480 tramadol capsules and arrested Sabi’u Umar, 27, in the Barunde area and Hassana Muhammad, 19, at Gombe Main Market.
In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was intercepted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85 kilograms of skunk.
Ondo State also recorded a major enforcement operation on September 15, when NDLEA operatives dismantled a two-hectare cannabis farm in the Ita-Ogbolu Forest. About 5,000 kilograms of skunk were destroyed, while 48 kilograms of fresh and dry cannabis were recovered as evidence. Four suspects—Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday—were arrested.
Beyond the seizures and arrests, the NDLEA said its commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation and advocacy campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency conducted WADA enlightenment programmes at St. Ferdinand School in Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School in Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School in Epe, Lagos State; and Government Technical Training School in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also took its campaign to traditional institutions, paying a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State, among others.
Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the momentum while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach of combining enforcement operations with drug-abuse prevention and public sensitisation campaigns.