NDLEA operatives have intercepted 396,000 tramadol capsules at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola. The seizure was part of a wider crackdown on drug trafficking across multiple states.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the tramadol consignment was seized during routine checks at the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport in Yola, Adamawa State. The interception came less than a week after the agency recovered over 171,000 pills in separate operations, underscoring the scale of trafficking networks attempting to move controlled substances through Nigeria’s airports.
The seizure was linked to broader NDLEA operations that spanned Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara States. In these coordinated raids, the agency arrested 22 suspects and confiscated a total of 15.6 tonnes of illicit drugs, including skunk, loud, and other controlled substances.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), commended the operatives for their vigilance and reiterated the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug cartels across the country. He emphasized that tramadol abuse remains a major public health concern, particularly among young people, and warned traffickers that the agency will continue to intensify surveillance at airports, seaports, and border crossings.
The agency also disclosed that cash seizures were made during the raids, including foreign currencies recovered from a wanted drug baron in Lagos. These financial recoveries are expected to aid ongoing investigations into the funding of drug trafficking networks.
Tramadol, a synthetic opioid, is classified as a controlled substance in Nigeria due to its widespread abuse. NDLEA has consistently warned that the drug is linked to addiction, violent crimes, and health complications. The Yola airport interception highlights the agency’s strategy of targeting transit points to cut off supply chains before drugs reach local markets.
