NDLEA Intercepts 31 Million Opioid Tablets and Bottles Worth N17.9 Billion at Ports in Lagos and Port Harcourt

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking, intercepting a total of 31,124,600 tramadol tablets and bottles of codeine syrup with a street value of over N17.9 billion. The seizures occurred at the Tincan Port in Lagos and the Port Harcourt Harbor Complex in Rivers State.

According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Publicity, the operation was carried out following intelligence reports regarding cargo shipments from India. This intelligence prompted the Nigerian Department of Defense and other relevant agencies to conduct thorough inspections of containers on their watch list.

On Thursday, August 29, and Friday, August 30, 2024, NDLEA operatives recovered 350,000 bottles of codeine syrup from two containers at Tincan Port in Lagos. Additionally, another 447 containers filled with tramadol (225 mg) pills, totaling 29,840,000 tablets, were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Harbor Complex. The seizures also included 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup.

The tramadol seized came in various brands, such as Royal Tapentadol, Carisoprodol (225 mg), and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride (225 mg). On Friday, August 30, another set of three containers under NDLEA surveillance were inspected, leading to the discovery of 3,030 boxes containing 554,600 bottles of codeine syrup.

These discoveries bring the total codeine seized to 1,284,600 bottles with a street value of N8.99 billion, while the tramadol tablets seized are valued at N8.94 billion.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Eze Emekan Don at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Tuesday, August 27, while he was attempting to board a flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, carrying 1,490 tramadol tablets.

Additionally, former beauty queen Miss Oluwadamilola Queen Aderinoye, who had been in hiding for eight months, surrendered to the authorities. Aderinoye, who was declared wanted by the NDLEA in January 2024 for her alleged involvement in drug trafficking, was apprehended in Akure, Ondo State.

In other operations, NDLEA officials in Lagos arrested Mustapha Ibrahim on August 26 with 1,122 kilograms of marijuana. In Niger State, Friday Gabriel was arrested while transporting tramadol capsules, codeine syrup, and Exol-5 tablets. Meanwhile, in Bauchi State, Garba Muhammed and Usman Yakubu were apprehended while transporting 246.4 kilograms of marijuana.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (RTD), commended the efforts of all officers involved in these operations, highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration in curbing drug trafficking across Nigeria.