The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, recording major seizures of tramadol, cannabis, synthetic cannabis and other controlled substances across several states.

The agency's recent operations resulted in the interception of large consignments of illicit drugs and the arrest of several suspects allegedly involved in drug trafficking and distribution.

Among the substances recovered were tramadol, pregabalin, cannabis, commonly known as skunk, and synthetic cannabis popularly called Colorado or Canadian Loud.

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives recovered 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425 kilogrammes during a raid at Sabon Gari. A 20-year-old suspect, Saidu Adamu, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Operatives also intercepted 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road and arrested a 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu.

In Plateau State, NDLEA officers arrested a 51-year-old man, Chinedu Uzor, at Katako Market in Jos with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the agency intercepted consignments of synthetic cannabis. One of the consignments contained 27 parcels weighing 32.20 kilogrammes.

NDLEA operatives also recovered illicit drugs concealed inside music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos as part of efforts to disrupt trafficking networks using commercial transportation routes.

The agency's operations extended to cannabis-producing areas, with thousands of kilogrammes of cannabis seized and destroyed.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,832.56 kilogrammes of cannabis recovered from several illicit cultivation sites in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest.

A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested during the operation.

In Ondo State, operatives recovered 186 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car following a raid on a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure.

The latest seizures followed other major interceptions recorded by the agency, including the seizure of 966,200 tablets of Tramadol 225mg, valued at more than N1.1 billion, at the Lagos airport.

The tablets were allegedly concealed among thrift clothing in a consignment originating from Pakistan.

The NDLEA also intercepted 57.80 kilogrammes of Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain, concealed in cartons of disposable hand gloves in a shipment from Singapore.

In another operation in Ondo State, officers intercepted a 20,000-litre fuel tanker fitted with a concealed compartment containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145 kilogrammes.

The agency said the operations demonstrate its continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, intercept illicit consignments and prevent controlled substances from reaching communities.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has repeatedly commended officers for intelligence-led operations and urged them to sustain the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

The agency is also continuing its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, focusing on drug prevention, public awareness and community mobilisation.

With the latest arrests and seizures, the NDLEA said it would continue targeting drug trafficking networks across the country while strengthening intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation.