NDLEA Seizes 31 Million Opioid Pills and Syrups Worth N17.9bn at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the interception of 31,124,600 tramadol pills (225mg) and bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at over N17.93 billion, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and Tincan Seaport, Lagos.

According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the seizures were made following intelligence on the shipments originating from India, prompting a 100% joint examination of the containers with Nigerian Customs and other security agencies.

Babafemi explained that 350,000 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered from two containers at Tincan Port, Lagos, on August 29 and 30. Additionally, 447 cartons containing 29,840,000 tramadol pills and 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup were intercepted from three containers at the Port Harcourt Port Complex on August 29. The tramadol pills were found under brand names like Royal Tapentadol, Carisoprodol (225mg), and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride (225mg).

Further, three more watch-listed containers examined on August 30 revealed an additional 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup, totaling 554,600 bottles. In total, 1,284,600 bottles of codeine syrup worth N8.99 billion and 29,840,000 tramadol pills valued at N8.94 billion were seized.

In another operation, NDLEA officers at Port Harcourt International Airport arrested a suspect, Eze Emekan Don, attempting to board a flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with 1,490 tramadol pills disguised as cosmetics. His bribery attempt to evade arrest was rejected.

Additionally, a former beauty queen, Aderinoye Queen Christmas, who had been on the run since January, surrendered to the Lagos Command after being declared wanted for dealing in illicit substances. During a raid of her Lekki residence, NDLEA recovered drugs and related items. The ex-beauty queen claimed to have been hiding in Akure, Ondo State.

Other notable arrests include Mustapha Ibrahim in Lagos, who was caught with 1,122kg of cannabis, and Friday Gabriel in Niger State, found with tramadol, codeine syrup, and Exol-5 tablets. Two suspects, Garba Muhammed and Usman Yakubu Shehu, were also arrested in Bauchi State for transporting 246.4kg of cannabis.

NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s officers for their professionalism and collaboration with stakeholders at the ports, as well as their ongoing efforts in drug supply reduction across the country.