Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.

The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.

Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”

He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.

Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”

He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.

“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.

According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.

He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”

The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”

He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.

The statement added, “A 44-year-old businesswoman, Chioma Nneka Mokeme, who is the actual owner of the consignments was eventually arrested on 7th July, 2026, in collaboration with the Area C Command of the Nigeria Police, Surulere, Lagos. Chioma, who claimed she is into printing business, said her friend Agbons Collins, who lives in Canada, introduced her into the criminal trade.”

In Rivers State, NDLEA operatives arrested 80-year-old Chika Ugwoji at Ahoada after recovering 800 grams of skunk from him.

Babafemi said, “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Rivers State have arrested an 80-year-old grandpa, Chika Ugwoji, for dealing in illicit substances. The octogenarian was found in possession of 800 grams of skunk at the time of his arrest at Ahoada on Tuesday, 14th July.”

In Edo State, operatives arrested a couple, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and Nwanneka Christian, 33, following a raid on their warehouse along Sapele Road, Benin City.

According to the statement, “A couple, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and Nwanneka Christian, 33, were arrested following a raid of their illicit drug warehouse along Sapele Road, Benin City, where 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 219.5kg and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud with a gross weight of 192.67kg were seized.”

Similarly, Hajara Abdullahi, a 38-year-old Chadian woman, and her Nigerian accomplice, Abdulkarim Jidda, 44, were arrested in Lagos after investigations linked them to the seizure of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted in Kogi State.

The statement said, “A Chadian woman, Hajara Abdullahi, 38, and her Nigerian accomplice Abdulkarim Jidda, 44, were nabbed in Lagos following the seizure of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted in Kogi state on Sunday 12th July. The consignment was eventually linked to the two suspects who were traced to Lagos and arrested in Apapa area of the state.”

Two firefighters are now battling for their lives at a hospital after they collapsed while battling a fire that engulfed the top floor of a three-storey residential building in the Ketu-Ikosi area of Lagos State.

Olawale Afolabi, spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency,  who disclosed in a statement on Sunday, said the fire began at about 6:31 am.

According to him, the fire, which affected one of a pair of twin three-storey residential buildings at No. 11, Ademola Taiwo Street, Ketu-Ikosi, was caused by an electrical surge from a prepaid meter.

Afolabi noted that collaboration with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service swiftly brought the inferno under control, preventing it from spreading to the adjoining building and nearby properties.

He stated, “The incident involved one of a pair of twin three-storey residential buildings. Upon the arrival of the Tiger Squad, it was observed that the fire had engulfed the topmost floor of the affected building.

“Swift and coordinated firefighting operations were immediately commenced to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to the adjoining twin building and other nearby properties.”

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was triggered by “an electrical surge from the prepaid meter located at the front section of the building’s balcony before extending to the topmost floor.”

He disclosed that two personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service collapsed while combating the blaze.

He continued, “During the firefighting operation, two officers of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service collapsed while combating the fire.

“The agency’s Response Team promptly evacuated both officers to the Trauma Centre for immediate medical attention using the agency’s ambulance and a LASEMA Response Team vehicle.

“Both officers are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition.”

The agency, however, said no civilian casualties or injuries were recorded in the incident.

“Fortunately, no loss of life or civilian injuries were recorded in the incident,” he said.

The spokesperson said dampening-down operations were ongoing to eliminate residual heat and prevent a fresh outbreak, while recovery operations were also underway to secure the building and assess the extent of the damage.

“LASEMA wishes to appreciate the professionalism and gallantry of all emergency responders, particularly the Tiger Squad and personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, whose swift intervention prevented what could have been a more devastating outcome,” the statement added.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Uchenna, also known as Odogwu, and three of his associates wanted over their alleged involvement in operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Imo State and laundering proceeds from illicit drug activities.

According to the agency, the three other suspects are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.

According to a statement issued on Friday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the suspects were declared wanted following an order granted by Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, after an application filed by the agency in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3.

Babafemi said the court order followed the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026.

He said NDLEA operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and other exhibits during the raid, while subsequent investigations linked the four suspects to the illegal laboratory.

“The suspects have since gone into hiding,” the statement said.

He added that forensic investigations led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66.

“Through forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66 only was frozen”, he said.

Babafemi also disclosed that it had secured interim forfeiture orders on assets allegedly connected to the syndicate, including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles bearing registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the operation as a demonstration of the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and target the financial structures sustaining them.

He said the discovery of the methamphetamine laboratory, the freezing of nearly N10bn in alleged illicit funds and the seizure of high-value assets underscored the agency’s resolve to ensure that drug traffickers no longer find safe havens for laundering proceeds of crime.

Marwa assured Nigerians that the agency would continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to track down the fleeing suspects and anyone linked to the syndicate.

He also appealed to members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects to report to the nearest NDLEA office or through the agency’s confidential communication channels.