The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confiscated a total of 31 million opioid pills and bottles, worth more than N17.9 billion, at both the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Rivers State and the Tincan Seaport in Lagos. This notable haul consists of 29.8 million tramadol 225mg pills and 1.28 million bottles of codeine syrup.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, announced the operation via the agency’s official X handle on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Babafemi revealed that the operation was carried out following intelligence on the shipments from India. This led to a demand for a 100% joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service and other security agencies.
According to Babafemi, the seizures included 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup recovered from two containers at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos on August 29 and 30, 2024. Each container held 175,000 bottles. Meanwhile, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, NDLEA operatives intercepted 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg, containing 29.8 million pills, along with 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup on August 29, 2024.
On August 30, 2024, another examination of three containers at the Port Harcourt Port Complex revealed an additional 554,600 bottles of codeine syrup. The total seizure of codeine bottles across both ports reached 1,284,600, valued at N8.99 billion, while the tramadol seizure was valued at N8.94 billion.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport arrested a suspect, Eze Emekan Don, on August 27, 2024, attempting to board a flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The suspect was caught with 1,490 pills of tramadol concealed in cosmetics packages.
Additionally, the NDLEA reported that a wanted ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas, who had been on the run for eight months, surrendered to the Lagos Command of the agency on August 28, 2024. She was previously declared wanted after a raid on her Lekki residence in January 2024 uncovered 606 grams of synthetic cannabis and other drug-related items.
The NDLEA continues to make strides in its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization activities across the country, including lectures and advocacy visits to schools, communities, and workplaces.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s officers for their vigilance and professionalism in executing these operations. He also acknowledged the support from other stakeholders that contributed to the success of the seizures.
