The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted more than 1.5 million tramadol pills concealed in two trucks that entered Nigeria through the Benin Republic border, dealing another major setback to drug trafficking networks.
The agency said the operation followed intelligence reports and came barely a week after its operatives in Lagos uncovered 558,900 pills of tramadol 250mg hidden inside a specially fabricated false-bottom compartment beneath a truck arriving from Togo.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the latest seizure in a statement shared on Sunday.
According to him, the two trucks intercepted in the recent operation used the same concealment technique and travelled through the same Togo-Benin Republic route before entering Nigeria.
Babafemi said the trucks were carrying more than three times the quantity recovered from the earlier seizure, with the consignment allegedly destined for northern Nigeria.
“In another major blow to tramadol trafficking syndicates, NDLEA officers have intercepted two more trucks using the same concealment method that was uncovered last week,” he said.
“The trucks, which came from Togo through the Benin Republic, were loaded with over 1.5 million tramadol pills. The illicit consignment was intended for delivery to the northern part of the country.”
He noted that the interception had disrupted a significant supply chain allegedly linked to criminal elements.
“This represents a massive quantity of dangerous drugs that would have ended up in the hands of bandits and other criminal groups. With smuggling routes through the ports becoming increasingly difficult, traffickers are now attempting to exploit land borders, but they are being stopped. This is a major victory for public health, national security and the protection of Nigerian youths,” Babafemi added.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify intelligence-led operations across the country’s borders as part of efforts to curb the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs.
