The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed how its operatives uncovered 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two large vehicle fuel tanks after tracking a suspected drug trafficker across several states.

The agency said the suspect allegedly purchased the fuel tanks in Onitsha, Anambra State, solely to hide the illicit drugs rather than for use in a vehicle or commercial resale.

According to the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the concealed consignment was transported through multiple security checkpoints before officers intercepted the suspect in the Wukari area of Taraba State.

Babafemi disclosed the details in a statement and video shared on X on Sunday, describing the concealment as an attempt to evade security agencies through a specially modified transport method.

“So a merchant of death travelled to Onitsha, Anambra State, to buy the two big vehicle fuel tanks not to sell or use in his vehicle but solely for the purpose of concealing illicit drugs,” Babafemi said.

He added that the suspect managed to move the tanks from Anambra to Taraba without detection before NDLEA operatives uncovered the hidden drugs.

“With 43,980 capsules of tramadol neatly stuffed in the fuel tanks, he was able to beat security checks all the way from Anambra up to Wukari area of Taraba State, where he was eventually arrested by NDLEA officers who uncovered his lid,” he said.

Babafemi said the agency released footage showing officers dismantling the fuel tanks and recovering the capsules concealed inside.

The operation, he said, highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods adopted by drug trafficking networks to transport prohibited substances across the country.

The NDLEA did not disclose the identity of the suspect or indicate whether additional arrests had been made in connection with the seizure.

The agency has repeatedly warned that traffickers are adopting more complex concealment techniques, including hiding narcotics in vehicle components, food items and household goods, to avoid detection by security agencies.

Tramadol, an opioid painkiller, is classified as a controlled medicine in Nigeria because of its widespread abuse. Nigerian authorities have linked its illicit use to addiction, violent crimes and activities of criminal groups operating across parts of the country.

The NDLEA said investigations into the latest seizure are ongoing as it works to identify other members of the trafficking network behind the concealed shipment.