Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have scored a significant breakthrough in the fight against illicit drug trafficking with the arrest of a 37‑year‑old businessman and the recovery of large quantities of tramadol pills concealed inside full‑body mannequins. The arrest, which forms part of a series of coordinated interdiction operations across the country, underscores the increasingly sophisticated methods used by traffickers and the agency’s sustained determination to disrupt illegal drug supply chains.
The suspect, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol along Oron–Ibaka Road in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Friday, January 9, 2026, as he travelled with full‑body mannequins purportedly for his clothing business. A subsequent search of the items revealed that the hollow mannequins had been surreptitiously stuffed with pills of tramadol — an opioid‑based painkiller that is widely abused as a recreational drug in Nigeria and beyond. The total weight of the recovered contraband was 5.3 kilograms, a quantity that suggests a deliberate and well‑coordinated attempt to traffic illicit drugs across borders.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement that Romans claimed he resides in Cameroon and was allegedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended. According to the agency’s preliminary findings, the suspect had purchased the tramadol tablets in Onitsha, Anambra State, and was transporting them to Cameroon to sell, using the mannequins as an innovative but unlawful concealment tactic.
Traffickers have increasingly sought to exploit legitimate business activities and everyday goods to mask their illicit cargoes, forcing NDLEA operatives to enhance their vigilance and intelligence‑led operations. The interception of the contraband along a key transit route reflects the agency’s proactive patrol strategy and its intensified efforts to prevent Nigeria from becoming a conduit for illegal opioids and other prohibited substances.
The arrest of Romans forms just one part of a broader campaign by the NDLEA in the first weeks of the new year. Across multiple states, operatives have conducted interdiction raids, made additional arrests, and seized an array of controlled substances, ranging from cannabis in its various strains to opioids and other psychoactive drugs. The agency’s actions in Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Edo, Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa states have yielded significant seizures of tramadol, skunk (a potent strain of cannabis), and other illicit drugs, demonstrating the nationwide scale of drug abuse and trafficking challenges.
In a related operation in Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives rearrested an 80‑year‑old ex‑convict, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, who had previously served a two‑year prison sentence for drug trafficking. According to the agency, credible intelligence led officers to Nkanta’s residence in Mmanta–Abak Village, Abak Local Government Area, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, where he was found in possession of 5.7 kilograms of skunk cannabis. The repeat arrest highlights the persistent allure of the illegal drug trade, even for individuals who have previously been prosecuted and incarcerated for similar offences.
The NDLEA’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking comes against a backdrop of growing concern over opioid abuse and its impact on public health and security. Tramadol, in particular, has been at the centre of regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions in Nigeria, where unsanctioned distribution and recreational use among youth have become entrenched issues. In recent months, the agency has also disrupted attempts to move large consignments of tramadol and other controlled substances through airport departures and courier channels, underscoring the multifaceted nature of drug trafficking schemes.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, has commended operatives involved in the recent arrests and seizures, reinforcing the agency’s dual focus on drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction. In addition to enforcement operations, the NDLEA continues to implement its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns, which extend to schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities across the country. These outreach efforts are designed to educate Nigerians, particularly young people, about the dangers of drug abuse and to build grassroots resilience against addiction.
The arrest of the businessman and the recovery of the tramadol‑laden mannequins have prompted reactions from law enforcement observers and civil society groups, many of whom have highlighted the ingenuity of traffickers in circumventing detection. Yet the successful interception also signals that agencies like the NDLEA are adapting their tactics and leveraging intelligence to counter emerging threats. Enhanced training, improved surveillance technologies, and inter‑agency cooperation have been cited as critical components of the current enforcement posture, enabling officers to better anticipate and disrupt trafficking networks.
Furthermore, the involvement of cross‑border dynamics in the case — with the contraband allegedly destined for Cameroon — underscores Nigeria’s role as both a market and transit corridor for illicit drugs in West and Central Africa. This regional dimension complicates enforcement efforts, requiring cooperation with neighbouring countries’ law enforcement agencies and the harmonisation of criminal justice responses. Analysts say that without sustained pressure on trafficking routes and shared intelligence frameworks, traffickers will continue to exploit gaps in border controls and regulatory oversight.
Public health professionals have also weighed in on the implications of tramadol trafficking and abuse, linking high availability of opioids to increased cases of addiction, impaired productivity, and social instability. In communities where economic hardship is pervasive and recreational drug use is widespread, the intersection of supply and demand creates a fertile environment for traffickers to thrive. The NDLEA’s broader approach, combining enforcement with community education, aims to address these underlying conditions while dismantling supply chains.
As the NDLEA pursues prosecution of the arrested businessman and other trafficking suspects, questions remain about the appropriate penalties and judicial outcomes for individuals involved in large‑scale drug distribution. Nigeria’s laws prescribe stringent sanctions for drug trafficking, including lengthy custodial sentences and significant fines, reflecting the severity with which the state views narcotics offences. Legal experts note that the adjudication of high‑profile cases can serve as a deterrent, yet they also call for systemic reforms to ensure swift and fair trials.
The mannequin concealment case, in particular, is likely to draw attention in court, as prosecutors build evidence to demonstrate intent, distribution networks, and the scale of the operation. For the NDLEA, success in securing convictions will bolster its credibility and reinforce public confidence in the rule of law. Meanwhile, the agency’s daily operations continue unabated, with interdictions and educational campaigns progressing in tandem across Nigeria’s regions.
The arrest of Ani Onyebuchi Romans and the discovery of 5.3 kilograms of tramadol hidden in mannequins highlight both the creativity of drug traffickers and the evolving capabilities of enforcement agencies. As Nigeria grapples with complex challenges posed by illicit drug markets, sustained vigilance, comprehensive policy responses, and community engagement remain essential elements of the national strategy to curb abuse and trafficking.
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