The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted a massive ₦3.9 billion shipment of tramadol concealed inside crayfish at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, marking a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to curb the illicit drug trade in the country. The bust led to the arrest of an Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, alongside three Nigerians, identified as Ogunlana Olanrewaju, Olushola Kayode, and Bakare Muheeb, who were allegedly complicit in the smuggling operation.
The consignment, which originated from India, had been disguised as ordinary multivitamins in a sophisticated attempt to bypass airport security. The seizure is part of a broader nationwide operation by the NDLEA aimed at disrupting illegal drug trafficking networks and protecting public health and safety in Nigeria.
Indian businessman and accomplices apprehended
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that operatives had been closely monitoring the suspicious shipment prior to September 11, 2025. Initially, two drivers and a clearing agent were apprehended while attempting to transport the consignment out of the airport. Following this, Gupta Ravi Kumar was arrested when he attempted to take delivery of the drugs, along with the three Nigerians who were allegedly assisting him in the operation. Babafemi confirmed that the tramadol shipment, imported via Ethiopian Airlines from Delhi, held a street value approaching ₦4 billion, emphasizing the scale and seriousness of the smuggling attempt.
Additional arrests and seizures across Lagos
The Lagos airport bust was not an isolated incident. In a related operation, NDLEA officials detained Onyeganochi Stanley Ifeanyi, a first-time traveller, who was found with skunk cannabis hidden inside crayfish. His partner, Ohadiegwu Anthony Uchenna, was later apprehended at a nearby hotel in possession of additional quantities of illegal substances. Further operations in Lagos uncovered over 81 kilograms of Canadian Loud and hashish oil at Tincan Port, while 65 kilograms of cannabis were intercepted on the Third Mainland Bridge. Numerous suspects linked to these shipments were also taken into custody for questioning.
Moreover, the agency discovered a clandestine factory in Ikorodu, Lagos, producing “skuchies,” a dangerous cocktail made from cannabis and black currant drink. Thousands of bottles and several tonnes of cannabis were seized, effectively shutting down the operation and preventing further circulation of the illicit product.
Intensified nationwide crackdown
The NDLEA confirmed that its operations have extended across multiple states, resulting in additional seizures and arrests. In Kano, officials recovered 100,000 tramadol pills along with other illicit substances. In Anambra, a couple was arrested in possession of substantial quantities of methamphetamine and skunk cannabis. Edo State authorities destroyed nearly 17 tonnes of cannabis at a plantation while also seizing more processed drugs and detaining associated suspects. Similar raids and arrests occurred in Oyo, Yobe, Ogun, and Abuja, demonstrating a coordinated effort to dismantle the drug trafficking network nationwide.
The NDLEA also highlighted the growing involvement of foreign nationals in Nigeria’s drug trade, raising concerns about the expansion of international trafficking networks and the need for increased vigilance and cooperation with global law enforcement agencies. The agency reiterated its commitment to intensifying its surveillance and enforcement measures to prevent the circulation of harmful drugs and protect Nigerian citizens from the associated health and societal risks.
The operation underscores the NDLEA’s determination to disrupt criminal networks, enforce drug laws, and safeguard communities from the threat of illicit substances while sending a strong warning to would-be traffickers attempting to exploit Nigeria as a transit or destination country.