The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a significant interception of illegal drug shipments, seizing seven containers carrying 1,229,400 bottles of codeine from India at the Onne ports in Rivers State. |
This haul, valued at over N9.8 billion, represents one of the largest drug seizures in recent times. This operation follows a previous seizure of 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup, totaling 1,050,000 bottles, worth over N7.35 billion, which was also intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports complex.
The recent seizure, reported on Thursday, July 18, was conducted by the NDLEA’s Maritime Special Operations Unit in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Ports Command and other security agencies, including the Customs Service. The operation followed months of meticulous tracking and intelligence gathering, leading to a thorough joint examination of the containers.
The seized containers, which arrived from India aboard the Maersk Vigo vessel, contained a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup. The breakdown of the shipment includes:
- Container SEKU 6439421: 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles of codeine, weighing 26,250 kg, along with 70 cartons of chilli cutters and 55 cartons of hyregra tablets.
- Container CMAU 9410422: 875 cartons of codeine with 175,000 bottles, weighing 26,250 kg, plus 15 cartons of chilli cutters and 60 cartons of hyregra tablets.
- Container TLLU 7595503: 1,754 cartons of codeine syrup, containing 179,400 bottles, weighing 26,910 kg.
- Four additional containers (TRHU 515117; CMAU 7877125; CMAU 8533700; CMAU 3882205): Each containing 175,000 bottles of codeine syrup, along with additional items such as chilli cutters, hyregra tablets, and diclofenac, which were used to mask the shipments.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s personnel for their dedication and professional handling of the operation.
He also acknowledged the support from various stakeholders at the ports, which contributed to the successful interception of the shipments. Marwa noted that this operation had inflicted significant financial losses on the cartels responsible for the drug trade, weakening their operational capabilities and financial base.