The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted 290,450 pills of tramadol (250mg) and pregabalin capsules in a major drug bust across multiple Nigerian states, including Kano, Lagos, and Kaduna.

According to a statement by the NDLEA, a syndicate’s attempt to smuggle cannabis from Thailand to Lagos through courier firms was also foiled.

The anti-narcotics agency said 6.3kg of loud, a potent cannabis strain, was discovered concealed in bedsheets and dried hibiscus flowers.

It said the package was intercepted by NDLEA operatives working with courier companies in Lagos. In Kano, a joint operation between NDLEA and customs on Danbatta–Daura road led to the arrest of 38-year-old man, Sa’adu Ali.

“Officers seized 290,450 tramadol pills and pregabalin capsules during the operation. In Lagos, operatives arrested a notorious drug dealer, John Igbe, also known as ‘SammyBless’, on Admiralty Road, Lekki,” said the NLDEA statement.

He was caught with 550 grams of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, packaged in cups.

On the same day, three suspects, Idris Lukman, Fuad Abdulsalam, and Mobolaji James, were arrested in Mushin with 109kg of skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup, and 2kg of nitrous oxide.

“At the Trade Fair Complex in the Alaba area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired 225mg diclofenac in a separate warehouse raid,” said the NDLEA.

It said in Kwara, 27,700 pills of tramadol (100mg/225mg) were seized from 25-year-old Salisu Abubakar on Monday, Sept. 29, during a stop-and-search operation in Bode Saadu, Moro LGA.

In Kaduna, a suspect, Blessing Ovaka, 50, was arrested with 498.5kg of skunk at Kudandan in Chikun LGA, while 27-year-old Dahiru Salisu was nabbed with 34,180 tramadol capsules on Kaduna–Zaria road.

“Also on September 29, NDLEA officers raided a location in Isheri, Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun State, arresting Abubakar Audu with 112kg of skunk and 16 grams of tramadol hidden in the premises,” said the agency.

(NAN)