By 9jaeye 
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant drug bust at the Tincan Port Complex in Lagos, intercepting 25 million pills of tapentadol—an opioid three times more potent than tramadol—along with 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup. These seizures occurred on September 17 and September 20, 2024, from three containers flagged by NDLEA intelligence.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the combined street value of the seized drugs is estimated at ₦14.95 billion. Specifically, the tapentadol pills, packed in 500 cartons, were found in one container, while another contained 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine.
In a separate operation on September 20, NDLEA operatives arrested 80-year-old Pa Aremu Shojobi in the Iyana Ipaja area for possessing 14 kilograms of cannabis. Shojobi admitted to selling illicit drugs for 25 years, sourcing supplies from the Benin Republic.
Additionally, NDLEA agents raided the homes of Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, a community leader, recovering 226 kilograms of cannabis from his family members. Although Talba remains at large, his first wife and son were found with 57.6 kilograms, while his second wife was in possession of 168.6 kilograms.
These operations underscore the ongoing efforts of the NDLEA to combat drug trafficking and uphold public safety in Nigeria.