Indian businessman arrested over N3.9bn tramadol at Lagos Airport

Gupta

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, and three Nigerian accomplices in connection with the interception of 2,248,000 pills of tramadol (200mg/225mg) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The shipment, disguised as multivitamins in 114 cartons and declared from Delhi, India, arrived at the Lagos import shed on Monday, 8 September, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

NDLEA, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the consignment is estimated at N3.99 billion.

Babafemi said operatives initially placed the goods under surveillance before intercepting a clearing agent and two drivers attempting to move the cargo in two trucks on Thursday, 11 September.

“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 an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Monday, 8 September 2025,” the statement read.

Babafemi added that a follow-up operation the next day led to the arrest of Gupta when he attempted to take delivery of the consignment.

He explained the operation was part of a nationwide crackdown by NDLEA over the past week. Punch