Oil
NDLEA intercepts illicit drugs across Nigerian airports and ports
The national drug agency has seized large quantities of narcotics and arrested multiple suspects during nationwide operations.
Key points
- A passenger was detained at Kano airport with cannabis concealed inside a gallon of palm oil.
- Authorities uncovered a multi-billion naira shipment of powdered tramadol at Apapa Port in Lagos.
- Raids across several states led to numerous arrests and the seizure of various illicit substances.
Nigerian law enforcement authorities have seized significant quantities of narcotics and apprehended numerous suspects during a series of nationwide operations, according to Punch reporting.
Airport and port seizures
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency detained a traveler at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport after discovering parcels of cannabis weighing 511.75 grammes hidden inside a container of palm oil. The suspect was attempting to board an international flight destined for Jeddah. Her relative was subsequently apprehended in the airport car park.
In Lagos, a joint inspection at Apapa Port uncovered 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol originating from India. Valued at over ₦6.98 billion, the consignment had been falsely declared as maize starch. Additional maritime interceptions at Tincan Port recovered quantities of foreign cannabis.
Nationwide raids
Further operations conducted across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi states resulted in the recovery of extensive drug stockpiles. Raids on markets and residential areas yielded large amounts of controlled pharmaceuticals and cannabis variants, leading to the detention of multiple individuals, as detailed by the agency's director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Crude benchmarks move budgets, currencies and inflation in producer and importer countries alike. For economies such as Nigeria, where fuels dominate exports, production and refining decisions move the whole economy.
85.9% of Nigeria’s merchandise exports were fuels in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
