Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a female passenger travelling to Saudi Arabia with cannabis concealed in a keg of palm oil, while a separate operation at Apapa Port uncovered tramadol worth over ₦6.98 billion.
The NDLEA cannabis palm oil keg tramadol seizures highlight the increasingly sophisticated methods used by drug traffickers and the agency’s determination to disrupt them .
THE KANO AIRPORT INTERCEPTION
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, NDLEA officers arrested a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, on Friday, October 16, 2026, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa .
A search of a gallon of palm oil in her possession revealed parcels of cannabis, otherwise known as skunk, weighing 511.75 grammes.
According to the NDLEA, Ahmad told investigators that the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya . Operatives subsequently moved to the airport car park, where Yahaya was arrested .
THE APAPA PORT SEIZURE
In Lagos, a joint examination at the APM Terminals in Apapa with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies on October 2 uncovered a large shipment from India declared as maize starch .
A confirmatory test at the NDLEA forensic laboratory showed the cargo to be tramadol hydrochloride powder.
When the consignment was separated from its concealment on Wednesday, October 14, it came to 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725 kilogrammes, valued at over ₦6.98 billion .
THE BROADER CRACKDOWN
The operations were part of a series of intelligence-led interdiction actions across the country.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects, including an 85-year-old woman, Grace Ehimeka, who was found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis .
Other suspects arrested in Edo included Ayo Aigberadion (53) with 220.8kg, Ali Garba (57) with 5.852kg, and Habib Braimoh (45) with 100 grammes .
THE NDLEA CHAIRMAN’S REACTION
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations for their vigilance and professionalism .
WHY IT MATTERS
The seizures represent a significant blow to drug trafficking networks operating between Nigeria, the Middle East, and Asia.
The Kano airport interception is particularly notable because it involved a woman travelling to Saudi Arabia, a destination where drug trafficking carries severe penalties.
The fact that the cannabis was concealed in a keg of palm oil suggests a level of planning and sophistication that is difficult to detect without rigorous screening.
The Apapa Port seizure is even more consequential. Tramadol abuse is a major public health crisis in Nigeria, particularly in the North.
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The fact that 8,725 kilogrammes of the drug were declared as maize starch and shipped from India highlights the challenges of monitoring imports at Nigeria’s ports.
ValidViewNetwork reports that the suspects are in custody. The investigations continue.