The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol valued at over ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port, Lagos, after a shipment imported from India was allegedly misdeclared as maize starch.
The agency disclosed the seizure in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18, 2026, by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the NDLEA, operatives discovered the consignment on October 2 during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at APM Terminals, Apapa.
Laboratory analysis subsequently confirmed that the cargo contained tramadol hydrochloride powder. When the drugs were separated from their concealment on October 14, officials recorded 349 bags weighing a total of 8,725 kilogrammes.
The seizure forms part of a wider nationwide crackdown on illicit drugs, which has resulted in additional interceptions and arrests across Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks.
The agency has not publicly identified the importer or disclosed any arrests directly linked to the Apapa tramadol shipment in the statement.
The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to prevent illicit drugs from entering the country through major ports.