Tag: Tramadol

Customs hands over $54,330 tramadol bribe money to EFCC

The Tincan Island Port (TCIP) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 54,330 dollars tramadol bribe money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, disclosed this at the handing over of the money to the EFCC Zonal Commander, Mr Michael Wetkas, in Lagos on Tuesday.

Nnadi also reiterated the zero compromise for corruption stance of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

According to Nnadi, the tramadol were falsely declared as electrical appliances valued over N856 million with a view to concealing them while the cash were offered to compromise the customs officers.

The controller said the act was in clear violation of Section 233 of Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCAA) 2023 and commended the officers who stood their grounds to work ethically and lawfully in the interest of national security.

He further called for continuous compliance on the part of port users and reminded them that the NCS with the collaboration of sister agencies like the EFCC would continue to frustrate criminal activities in the port.

Nnadi lauded the officers, who under whose watch, the seizure was achieved and described them as good ambassadors of the NCS.

“The two suspects arrested in connection with the two containers are currently being investigated by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control for possible prosecution,” he said.

Wetkas while receiving the cash, described the feat as a victory for the country and to all the security agencies.

He specifically celebrated the officers of the NCS that achieved it.

Wetkas also lauded the the comptroller general for the letter of commendation in appreciation of the six customs officers who refused to bow to pressure and inducement from the owners of the illicit drugs.

He promised continued collaboration between the EFCC, NCS and sister agencies.

According to him, the era of working without collaboration is gone as the agencies now work closer.

November 28, 2023
Customs intercepts N1.8bn tramadol in Lagos airport

The Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 23 packages of tramadol with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) worth N1.8 billion between January and March.

The Customs Area Comptroller, Mohammed Yusuf, at news conference in Lagos on Wednesday said that the pharmaceutical products were imported from India and Pakistan.

Yusuf listed the seized items to include 22 packets of tramadol (225mg) and 12 packets of tramadol (120mg) tablets.

According to Yusuf, the above seizures were recorded based on intelligence-driven operations within the airport.

He added that the tramadol tablets in their custody had been scheduled for handing over to the Commander of Narcotics, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

“In the spirit of inter-departmental cooperation, this will further strengthen our collaboration in safeguarding our youths from the use of harmful substances which can endanger their lives and the environments.

“We shall intensify more efforts in making our communities a safer place for all of us to live,” he said.

On export, and for the period under review, he said that the command recorded exportation of goods worth N100.93 billion from the country.

“These exported goods include: non-commercial and commercial foods with a total weight of 653 tonnes and Free On Board (FOB) value of N4.81 billion.

“The command is working hard to promote export businesses to boost forex earnings for the country,” he said.

The customs boss noted that the command generated a total sum of N21.4 billion as revenue in the period under review.

“It is pertinent to note that in the corresponding period of 2022, the command generated N17.5 billion which shows a progressive difference in the sum of N3.8 billion, depicting a 21.97 per cent increase.

“It is worthy to note that the revenue activities of the command comprise importation and exportation of legitimate goods, goods under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

He pointed out that in the area of stakeholder’s engagement, the command had maintained an open-door policy and had resolved a lot of issues of common interest with concerned stakeholders.

He appreciated esteemed partners in the clearance value chain for their unwavering support and also encourage them to always brace up to the emerging challenges as they work together to move the nation forward.

“We appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali(Rtd) and his management team for necessary support to discharge their duties and officers and men of the command for their dedication and commitment to discharging their responsibilities,” he said.

May 17, 2023
TARABA: NDLEA seizes 164,750 tramadol pills

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized 164,750 tramadol and other illicit pills in Taraba State.

This was disclosed by its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday in Abuja.

He stated that the drugs were seized from two suspects – Henry Abuchi and Daniel Ugwoke.

He added that 96 compressed blocks of Indian hemp weighing 82kg concealed inside jumbo bags of cassava flour were also recovered at Basket Market, Asaba.

NDLEA operatives also recovered 45 blocks of compressed Indian hemp weighing 23kg on the Okene-Abuja Highway in Kogi on March 21 from one Abubakar Muhammad.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) learned that Muhammad was traveling in a bus that left Lagos for Maiduguri before his arrest.

A female drug dealer, Mrs Kudirat Bello was arrested at Igbesa in Ogun on March 20 with different quantities of methamphetamine, Indian hemp, rophynol and N119, 600 monetary exhibits, he stated.

“In Lagos, more than 1,000kg of Indian hemp were recovered from three suspects – Bolaji Adesina, Femi Ojo and Jamiu Useni during a raid at Mushin,’’ Babafemi added.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Tramadol, sold under the brand name Ultram among others, is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

When taken by mouth in an immediate-release formulation, the onset of pain relief usually begins within an hour. It is also available by injection. It is available in combination with paracetamol (acetaminophen).

As is typical of opioids, common side effects include constipation, itchiness, and nausea. Serious side effects may include hallucinations, seizures, increased risk of serotonin syndrome, decreased alertness, and drug addiction. A change in dosage may be recommended in those with kidney or liver problems.

It is not recommended in those who are at risk of suicide or in those who are pregnant. While not recommended in women who are breastfeeding, those who take a single dose should not generally have to stop breastfeeding.

Tramadol is converted in the liver to O-desmethyltramadol (desmetramadol), an opioid with a stronger affinity to the μ-opioid receptor. Tramadol is also a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

Tramadol was patented in 1963 and launched under the name “Tramal” in 1977 by the West German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal GmbH.

In the mid-1990s, it was approved in the United Kingdom and the United States. It is available as a generic medication and marketed under many brand names worldwide. In 2020, it was the 35th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 17 million prescriptions.

March 26, 2023
HORROR: Mother allegedly gives months-old baby ‘Tramadol’ for her to go clubbing, baby dies (Photos)

An unidentified young lady and mother of one has reportedly killed her months-old baby after giving him Tramadol to enable the baby to sleep deep in order for her to go clubbing with friends.

She has however been arrested by the police after residents mobbed her over the death of the child.

According to trending eye-witness reports, the incident happened last night in Likomba, Tiko.

“This lady you see here committed an abomination last night in Likomba, Tiko. Despite having a newborn baby of few months old in hand, she wanted to go clubbing with friends,” the report stated.

She has however been arrested by the police after residents mobbed her over the death of the child.

The eye-witness reporter wrote on his page: “The innocent child was the only thing standing in her way as she couldn’t take him to the club. So what did this girl do?

“She decided to give him tra@madol so he can fall deep asleep. This way she can go party with her friends. She gave her the tr@madol and locked the baby inside the house. She returned home this morning only to find out the baby died as a result of the hard drugs she gave him.

“Likomba inhabitants descended on her and got her well be@ten. Forces of law and order intervened and as of now, the girl is in detention. The baby has been buried. May the soul of the innocent baby rest in peace.”

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Tramadol, sold under the brand name ‘Ultram’ among others, is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. When taken by mouth in an immediate-release formulation, the onset of pain relief usually begins within an hour. It is also available by injection.

See the photos of buried baby below:

January 24, 2023
NAFDAC destroys tramadol, unregistered pharmaceuticals worth N95bn

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has destroyed tramadol and unregistered pharmaceuticals worth N95bn.

Disclosing this at a press briefing on Monday, NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the destruction was done in December 2022 after four and half years of monitoring with the help of the government of Benin Republic.

The products found in five containers were tramadol 200mg and higher-strength, diclofenac tablets.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the products were destroyed in Cotonou.

Adeyeye said, “Following an intelligence report from the Presidency, the Director-General of NAFDAC in August 2018 directed the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate, Prof Samson Adebayo on the intention of some unscrupulous importers to ship 31 containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products including tramadol 200mg and above from India. The containers were labeled building materials for a bonded terminal.

“The Director, Ports Inspection Directorate, working with his Intelligence & Monitoring Unit commenced the surveillance and monitoring of the reported containers from the ports of loading to the successive ports where they were transloaded along the sea routes.

“The first approach was to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service. Eventually, twenty-one of the containers were discharged at the Apapa port in Lagos, Nigeria as manifested. One container couldn’t be tracked because of a missing container number. Out of the 21 containers, only two had building materials.

“However, as the importers of the containers became aware that NAFDAC was tracking and monitoring the containers on arrival at the Apapa port and intercepting them, they decided to change their strategy by diverting the remaining away from the Nigerian port. Four containers never got to Nigeria but were discharged at transshipment in Malaysia.”

According to the NAFDAC boss, one container was transferred to the Cotonou port in the Republic of Benin while the remaining four were initially diverted to the Tema Port in Ghana but later diverted to Cotonou having met resistance from Ghana Food and Drug Agency that NAFDAC already contacted for collaboration to stop the four containers.

She noted that the agency liaised with the former Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, Kayode Oguntuase, to ensure that the port authority in the Republic of Benin affected the seizure of the five containers.

“His successor, Olukayode Aluko never relented in his effort at ensuring that all these five containers are released to NAFDAC for destruction. Meanwhile, for the other 24 containers, some entities took the case to court in Benin that the containers should be brought back to Nigeria.

“This took about one year plus but Ambassador Aluko stayed on the case until the court made the judgment that the containers can be destroyed in Benin. Alas, the government of the Republic of Benin eventually agreed to engage with the Nigerian counterparts to carry out the destruction of these containers in Cotonou.

“A team of NAFDAC officers, including Investigation & Enforcement Directorate officers, led by the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate, Prof Adebayo, traveled to Cotonou where the destruction exercise of the five containers took place on December 21st and 22nd, 2022.

“This international landmark achievement, which had never been recorded in the history of the two countries and NAFDAC, did not come without the unflinching efforts of the staff of the Ports Inspection Directorate in Apapa and Seme Border,” she added.

January 23, 2023
BREAKING: NDLEA busts mansion in VGC, discover 13million pills of Tramadol

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted a mansion stored with a large amount of Tramadol in Lagos.

The substances are contained in hundreds of cartons kept in a house in Victoria Garden City (VGC).

The estate, mostly occupied by the rich, is located along the Lekki-Ajah corridor.

NDLEA Director of Media, Femi Babafemi announced the operation Monday morning.

“Another VGC drug bust! As massive and beautiful this mansion located in highbrow VGC Lekki Lagos, pictured here looks, it’s not occupied by humans.

“Used to warehouse over 13million pills of Tramadol 225mg by another billionaire drug baron now in @ndlea_nigeria net”, Babafemi tweeted.

October 3, 2022
Popular Akwa Ibom pastor arrested with 3 drums of Mkpuru Mmiri

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a popular Akwa Ibom State pastor, Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong with three drums of crystal methamphetamine, locally called Mkpuru Mmiri, believed to have been imported from India.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Pastor Effiong was arrested after the consignment weighing 90 kilograms and loaded into a commercial bus with registration number RSH 691XC was intercepted during a stop and search operation along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene highway on Saturday.

According to the NDLEA, Pastor Effiong was arrested at Oron beach in Oron, adding that the consignment, loaded into the commercial bus at Ojuelegba, Lagos State, was meant for onward delivery to the Republic of Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the drug law enforcement agency disclosed in a statement on Sunday that a female passenger, Jatau Lydia Lami was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Sunday 31st July for attempting to export 1,700 tablets of Tramadol 225mg concealed in her luggage to Istanbul, Turkey via a Turkish Airline flight.

The agency disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, a mother of three, hails from Zango Kataf LGA, Kaduna State and lives in Istanbul, Turkey with her family. She blamed her action on pressure to raise N5 million ransom to free her mother from the captivity of bandits who kidnapped her in June.

August 7, 2022
NDLEA uncovers N22b worth of imported Tramadol

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that ongoing investigation of a suspected drug baron, (name withheld) has led to the discovery of more than N22billion worth of tramadol.

This is contained in a statement by NDLEA Director Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the investigation led to how the suspect in October 2019 imported into Nigeria two containers, containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol with market value of over N22billion.

He said that the statement was to counter insinuations by some hirelings that NDLEA had no evidence to pin a crime on the suspect, widely believed to be the chair of a group of firms.

According to him, after months of surveillance, the suspect was eventually arrested on board a flight to Abuja at the MM2 Terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja, on Wednesday April 13.

“Investigations revealed that he is been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit.

“He (withheld) owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.

“The agency said in the course of investigating the N3billion Tramadol saga between the suspect and the Abba Kyari’s IRT team, its operatives have unearthed more evidences.

According to Babafemi, the suspect has been importing large quantities of Tramadol far above the approved threshold allowed into Nigeria.

“No doubt the suspect will soon have his day in court, ” he said.

May 3, 2022
NDLEA nabs drug baron behind N3bn Tramadol linked to Abba Kyari’s team

Billionaire drug baron behind the N3billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Chief Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi stating that:

“After months of surveillance and evading arrest, Ukatu who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies was eventually nabbed onboard a flight to Abuja
at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja on Wednesday 13th April.

Investigations reveal hes been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit. Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria. This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.

Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos. The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18million and N20million a carton in Lagos.

After the arrest of Ukatu’s staff: Pius Enidom and Sunday Ibekwete, Kyaris men were then led by the suspects to Mallinson’s warehouse at Ojota in Lagos where 197 additional Cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized by the IRT Team. The monetary value of the 202 cartons of Tramadol seized from Mallinson in one day was over N3billion.

Three weeks after the seizure, the Kyaris IRT team transferred only 12 Cartons of the Tramadol with one truck and a suspect to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA, leaving 190 cartons unaccounted for. After over eight months of following the lead, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency eventually arrested Ukatu at the Lagos airport on 13th April 2022. Kyari and four top members of his team are already facing trial for a different but similar offence at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

April 25, 2022
How NDLEA seized Tramadol, Exol 5 worth over N5 billion at 3 Airports

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday it has seized not less than 9.5 million tablets of pharmaceutical opioids (Tramadol and Exol 5), worth over N5 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Edo state.

NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement, said the seizures were made by operatives of the NDLEA, and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Babafemi said, “Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9, 219, 400 tablets weighing 6, 384.5kg, with an estimated street value of N4, 609, 700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday 29th March alongside 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with a total weight of 1, 327.35kg by the Nigerian Customs to the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.

“In Abuja, about 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were intercepted on Friday 1st April at Abaji area of the FCT. The truck conveying the drugs was loaded in Lagos heading to Kano. Though the truck driver escaped into the bush during the search of the vehicle, two of his assistants; Usman Abdulmumini, 23 and Aminu Ahmad, 22, were arrested.

“At the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA, a Brazilian returnee Nnanna Anayo Michael, 39, was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 29th March. Nnanna who hails from Ekwusigo, Anambra State was arrested with 73 sachets weighing 8.15 kilograms of cocaine, which is the largest seizure of such at the airport, since it began international flight operations years ago.”

Babafemi said during the preliminary interview, Nnanna said he departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday midnight en route Qatar to Port Harcourt.

“He claimed an unidentified person in Sao Paulo gave him six-bed sheets in which the drug was concealed to deliver to another unidentified person at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. The 73 cocaine sachets were hidden in 4×1 feet factory sewn colourful bed sheets. Five of the bed sheets contain 12 sachets each, while the sixth bed sheet contains 13 sachets,” the Agency’s spokesman said.

He added that an immediate follow-up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who travelled from Lagos to pick the drug from Nnenna.

“He was arrested at the airport’s car park where he was waiting to receive Nnenna with the latter’s photograph taken at the Brazilian airport and his international passport’s Data Page in his hand,” Babafemi said.

He said in Oyo state, 17.6kg of cannabis was transferred along with a suspect, Ramon Dauda, 40, to the state command of NDLEA by the Oyo/Osun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service.

He added that narcotics officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Thursday 31st March intercepted a consignment of 10kg cannabis and 12.1grams of amphetamine in a commercial bus.

He said a follow-up operation in Ilesa, Osun state led to the arrest of the owner of the drug exhibits, Mrs Remi Aluko, 44.

The statement reads, “Three drug joints were raided at Wire road, Benin City and Uromi town in Esan Central LGA where 188 pinches of Cocaine and Heroin were recovered with five suspects arrested. In another raid in Okada town, a patent medicine dealer, Harrison Odion was arrested with 70 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup; 9,638 Tramadol capsules; 16,843 tablets of Exol-5; 80 tablets of Diazepam and 62 ampules of Diazepam injection. In the same vein, operatives in the state destroyed seven clusters of dry season Cannabis Sativa farms in Okpuje Forest along the banks of River Ose totalling 3.124998 hectares.

“At least, seven drug dealers were arrested in raids in parts of Kano with 80 kilograms of codeine and pentazocine injection seized from them. Those picked in Rijiyar Zaki, Brigade, Yan-Kaba, Tudun Wada, Karfi, Ungogo and Nassarawa areas of the state include Muhammad Adamu; Abba Sani; and Auwalu Muhammad, among others.

“While commending the working relationship between NDLEA and other security agencies in the country, Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-narcotic agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged officers and men of the MMIA, PHIA, FCT, Edo, Oyo and Kano Commands not to rest on their oars.”

April 3, 2022