NDLEA Bursts Indian Businessman, 3 Others Over N3.9bn Tramadol Seized at Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested an Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, alongside three Nigerian accomplices, in connection with a multi-billion-naira tramadol consignment intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State.

The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the drugs, valued at N3.9bn, were disguised as multivitamins and shipped from Delhi, India.

According to Babafemi, NDLEA operatives had been monitoring the suspicious consignment, which arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Monday, September 8.

On Thursday, September 11, two drivers and a clearing agent attempting to move the cargo out of the airport in two trucks were intercepted.

“The tramadol shipment worth N3,990,000,000 in street value was imported from Delhi, India, disguised as multivitamins in 114 cartons, and arrived at the import shed of the Lagos airport on September 8,” Babafemi said.

He added that a follow-up operation on Friday led to the arrest of Kumar, who showed up at the airport to take delivery of the illicit cargo.

The three other suspects, identified as Ogunlana Olanrewaju, Olushola Kayode, and Bakare Muheeb, were also taken into custody.

NDLEA operatives recovered the 114 cartons, which were later confirmed to contain tramadol, a restricted pharmaceutical opioid that has fueled addiction and crime across the country.

The latest arrest comes as part of the agency’s wider nationwide crackdown on drug syndicates.

In other recent operations, NDLEA intercepted Canadian Loud, methamphetamine, and skuchies factories across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and several other states.

Babafemi said the agency will continue to pursue criminal networks smuggling narcotics into the country under false pretences.