NDLEA Seizes ₦6.5 Billion in Opioids and Codeine Syrup Across Ports

Nigeria Seizures Nigeria Seizures

Posted by TGANB-Admin on 2025-06-24 08:59:10 |

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In May 2025, the NDLEA, operating jointly with Nigeria Customs, made coordinated drug seizures across Port Harcourt’s Onne and Apapa, Lagos ports. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that the operations yielded:

• 6 million opioid pills (tapentadol, tamol, carisoprodol) and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Onne (May 19–20).

• 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Apapa (May 22).

The total estimated duty-paid value was approximately ₦6.5 billion.

These containers were moved to watchlist status after tracking emerging trafficking routes—intelligence-driven vigilance resulted in 100% searches uncovering the massive payload of illicit pharmaceuticals.

Tapentadol and carisoprodol are potent psychoactive substances not approved in Nigeria and often misused. The quantities seized were sufficient to supply large-scale addiction networks, raising serious public health and security concerns.

Following seizure, NDLEA retained and moved consignments to its labs for analysis, documentation, and secure destruction. Babafemi emphasized continued joint operations at ports and borders to stem the inflow of dangerous narcotics.

This multi-billion-naira seizure highlights the scale and sophistication of opioid trafficking. It also demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to track complex supply chains, leverage intelligence, and coordinate among enforcement agencies to combat a major health threat.

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