NDLEA Seizes £3.2bn Worth Of Opioids In Major Crackdown At Lagos And Port Harcourt Ports.
In a significant blow to drug trafficking networks, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted opioids valued at over £3.2 billion in separate operations at Apapa and Port Harcourt ports, Nigeria. The seizures, described as a testament to the agency’s vigilance, underscore ongoing efforts to curb the illicit drug trade across the country.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the operations targeted watch-listed containers based on intelligence gathered by the agency. At the Port Harcourt Port complex in Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers, alongside personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies, intercepted 3,000,000 pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg on Wednesday, 14 May. The illicit drugs, with an estimated street value of £2.1 billion, were uncovered during a joint examination of a suspect container.
In a similar operation at Apapa Port on Tuesday, 13 May, NDLEA operatives discovered 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup concealed within a shipment declared as containing new car parts and accessories from India. The codeine, valued at over £1.1 billion, was seized following a collaborative inspection with other security agencies. The combined value of the drugs seized in both ports totals £3.2 billion.
Further demonstrating the agency’s reach, NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 250 grams of cocaine at a courier company in Lagos on Friday, 16 May. The drugs, hidden in female headgear and destined for Australia, were seized before they could leave the country.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retired), praised the operatives involved in the operations, commending the DOGI, Port Harcourt Port Complex, and Apapa commands for their diligence. He also lauded NDLEA officers nationwide for maintaining a balanced approach between reducing drug supply and addressing drug demand through prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
“This is a clear message to those involved in the illicit drug trade: we will not relent in our pursuit to dismantle these networks and protect our communities,” Marwa said.
The seizures come as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to combat drug trafficking and abuse, with the NDLEA intensifying its operations at key entry points and within local communities. The agency’s proactive measures, including intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration, continue to yield significant results in the fight against narcotics.