NDLEA seizes tramadol, codeine worth N16.9 billion in Lagos

Thursday, April 30, 2026 - Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have uncovered and raided three illegal drug warehouses concealed within a residential estate in the Okota area of Lagos, recovering large quantities of tramadol and codeine valued at over N16.9 billion.

The agency said in a statement on Wednesday that the operation, carried out on Friday, April 17, 2026, was based on coordinated intelligence. The raids were conducted at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street, Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota, where a major storage facility was discovered, as well as two other locations at 5 Charles Ndumetu Street in the same estate.

Officials recovered 2,360,000 pills of high-strength tramadol 225mg and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup, with an estimated street value of over N16.9 billion. The substances were packed in 19,094 cartons of codeine syrup and 34 cartons containing tramadol tablets.

Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the operation dealt a heavy blow to the illegal drug market and led to the collapse of a major trafficking network.

He commended the officers involved, describing the seizure as a significant step in the ongoing fight against substance abuse and drug trafficking.

“The scale of this recovery, nearly 4.3 million units of lethal substances, is a testament to the fact that our officers are staying several steps ahead of these merchants of death. To find such volumes hidden within residential estates like Park View and busy hubs like Okota shows the desperation of these cartels, but it also highlights the peerless intelligence capabilities of our team,” he said.

Marwa also warned that those involved in the illicit drug trade would continue to face strict action, stressing that there is no safe place for traffickers in the country.

“Let this be a clear signal to those who think they can profit from the destruction of our children’s futures: we will find you, we will dismantle your networks, and we will bring the full weight of the law upon you”, he warned.