2,145kg Cannabis: NNPC Disowns Drug-Laden Tanker

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has denied ownership of a fuel tanker intercepted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State with 2,145 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a secret compartment.

The 20,000-litre tanker, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was intercepted along the Akoko/Lokoja Expressway on Friday, September 4, 2026, after its driver allegedly refused to stop when flagged down by NDLEA operatives.

According to the NDLEA, the driver later abandoned the tanker at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into the bush.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a concealed compartment containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg, hidden alongside legitimate fuel reportedly being transported to Jos, Plateau State.

However, NNPC Ltd. said preliminary checks showed that the tanker does not belong to the company and is neither part of its official fleet nor that of any of its authorised dealers.

In a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company also said the logo displayed on the tanker does not correspond with its current official branding and that the vehicle is not listed in its asset database.

NNPC said it was engaging the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to establish how its old branding came to be displayed on the vehicle.

The company condemned the unauthorised use of its corporate identity, particularly in connection with alleged criminal activity, and said it would cooperate fully with the NDLEA and other security agencies investigating the incident.

The NNPC further said the investigation would establish the ownership and operation of the tanker and determine how its markings came to appear on the vehicle.

The seizure was part of a wider NDLEA crackdown across several states, during which the agency reported recovering large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine, codeine and other controlled substances.