Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two large vehicle fuel tanks in a sophisticated smuggling operation.
According to the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, was arrested on Saturday, July 4, 2026, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. He was travelling from Onitsha in Anambra State.
The agency stated that Ugwuoke purchased the two large fuel tanks specifically to conceal the tramadol capsules rather than for legitimate vehicle use or resale. He successfully evaded multiple security checkpoints during the journey from Anambra before NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, intercepted and searched the vehicle in Taraba.
Babafemi described the operation in a statement shared on social media, noting: “With 43,980 capsules of tramadol neatly stuffed in the fuel tanks, he was able to beat security checks all the way from Anambra up to Wukari area of Taraba State where he was eventually arrested by NDLEA officers who uncovered his lid.” The agency released video footage showing the fuel tanks being dismantled and the drugs recovered.
Tramadol, a controlled opioid painkiller, is frequently abused in Nigeria and has been linked to addiction, violent crime, and other security challenges. The NDLEA has intensified operations against its illicit trafficking, with Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) previously reporting the seizure of over 200 million tramadol pills in a one-year period.
Investigations into the seizure are ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying other members of the suspected trafficking network. No further arrests linked directly to this consignment have been publicly announced.
This latest bust underscores the NDLEA’s continued push against evolving concealment methods used by drug traffickers, including modifications to vehicle components.
Share Your Thoughts