How we intercepted tramadol concealed in pressure machines -NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed how its operatives intercepted illicit drugs concealed in pressure machines and arrested a suspect, Egwu Phillip Inya, who claimed to be a building engineer.

Egwu, aged 42, was arrested on 2 December 2024 at Okeyson Motor Park, Enugu, when he attempted to retrieve three pressure machines containing parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 7.40 kilograms.

NDLEA said the consignments, imported from South Africa, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on 29 November 2024.

According to the agency, operatives from its MMIA Strategic Command tracked the shipment through the clearing process to a logistics warehouse before the importer redirected its collection point to Enugu.

Speaking on the operation, the agency said, “NDLEA operatives in a follow-up operation in Enugu arrested Egwu when he showed up to collect the consignments.”

Meanwhile, in a separate operation in Adamawa State on 6 December, NDLEA officers on patrol intercepted a Siena vehicle containing 511,000 tramadol pills along Hildi, Askira Uba road. The suspects abandoned the vehicle upon noticing they were being trailed by the NDLEA team.

In Ekiti State, two suspects, Olanrewaju Alale and Babatunde Kayode Ijadahun, were apprehended transporting 1,323 kilograms of cannabis in 108 jumbo bags. The agency stated that the suspects were moving the consignment from Ekiti to Ondo for redistribution in the North.

The NDLEA also reported the arrest of Adekunle Yusuf in Oyo State with 704 kilograms of cannabis and two individuals in Lagos: a 65-year-old grandmother, Ramata Bola Adeyemo, found with 20.6 liters of codeine-based syrup, and Alhaji Lawan Manga, who had 4.7 kilograms of cannabis and 1.3 kilograms of tramadol.

Commending the agency’s efforts, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers for their work. “These arrests and seizures underscore the commitment of our operatives in combating drug trafficking and abuse,” he said, adding that their efforts demonstrated “a balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.”

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The agency also highlighted its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaigns, which include sensitization programs in schools, communities, and workplaces across the country. NDLEA confirmed that these outreach efforts continue to create awareness and reduce drug abuse nationwide.