NDLEA Uncovers 2.1 Tonnes of Cannabis Concealed in Fuel Tanker
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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a 20,000-litre fuel tanker equipped with a custom false compartment used to traffic 2,145 kilograms of cannabis. The interception forms part of a series of major drug seizures executed across nine states.
The tanker (registration number MKA 960 XC) was intercepted along the Akoko/Lokoja Expressway in Ondo State on Friday, September 4, 2026, after the driver reportedly ignored signals to stop at an NDLEA checkpoint.
NDLEA Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, confirmed in a Sunday statement that the driver abandoned the vehicle at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into nearby bushes, prompting officers to inspect the tanker.
The search revealed a concealed compartment inside the tank containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg. The illicit consignment was loaded alongside legitimate fuel cargo reportedly intended for delivery to Jos, Plateau State.
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| An official news image showing the seized 20,000-litre fuel tanker used in the operation: |
Agency officials noted that the vehicle had repeatedly evaded capture in previous operations, making the seizure a major success in the NDLEA’s intelligence-driven campaign against drug trafficking syndicates.
The operation was conducted alongside coordinated raids across Lagos, Adamawa, Ondo, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ekiti, Kogi, Taraba, and Enugu states. These joint efforts yielded substantial seizures of cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine, codeine, and other controlled substances.
In Lagos, operatives seized 966,200 tablets of 225mg Tramadol—valued at over ₦1.1 billion—hidden within thrift garments inside a 21-carton shipment from Pakistan. An additional 57.80kg of "Loud," a potent synthetic cannabis strain valued at over ₦173 million, was recovered from a Singapore import.
Additionally, officers at Tincan Port in Lagos intercepted a 40-foot container carrying 598.08kg (890 packets) of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies. The recovery was tied to a previous seizure of 842.54kg of similar drug-laced edibles.
In Adamawa State, agency personnel seized 864,000 opioid pills—primarily tramadol—from a residential property linked to a fleeing suspect, while a separate raid in Michika led to the recovery of 2kg of methamphetamine.
Further operations yielded the following recoveries:
- Kogi State: 636kg of cannabis concealed under chicken manure inside a Jos-bound bus along the Okene/Lokoja highway.
- Taraba State: Over 109kg of mixed controlled substances—including tramadol, diazepam, pentazocine, phenobarbital, nitrazepam, bromazepam, and pregabalin—confiscated from a vehicle en route from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State.
- Kaduna State: 1,179kg of skunk recovered from a cement truck intercepted along the Zaria-Kano Expressway.
- Ekiti State: Destruction of a four-hectare cannabis plantation in Efon-Alaaye forest, along with the retrieval of 117kg of harvested skunk.
- Enugu State: 40,590 tramadol capsules seized during a vehicle search at Ugbema Junction.
Babafemi emphasized that these nationwide actions reflect the agency’s commitment to an intelligence-led strategy focused on dismantling supply lines and keeping illicit drugs off the streets. He added that the coordinated raids directly counter the evolving concealment tactics employed by trafficking networks.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers involved, urging personnel to maintain momentum across both supply- and demand-reduction initiatives. Marwa warned that syndicates using fake identities, legitimate commercial fronts, or advanced concealment methods will continue to be identified, tracked, and prosecuted.
