In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit opioids valued at over ₦6.5 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos and Onne Port in Rivers State. The successful operations, carried out in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, also led to the arrest of two British nationals and two Nigerians suspected to be connected to the drug consignments.
According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizure included millions of tramadol 225mg tablets and hundreds of thousands of bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in multiple containers. The agency disclosed that the illicit shipments originated from India and were flagged following intelligence alerts. Upon arrival at the ports, a joint inspection of the watch-listed containers uncovered the contraband carefully hidden among legitimate goods.
In Apapa Port, operatives uncovered over 1.5 million tramadol pills and 700,000 bottles of codeine syrup falsely declared as other items. Similarly, the operation at Onne Port led to the discovery of an additional large cache of opioids packed to evade detection.
The two British nationals were taken into custody during follow-up investigations and are being interrogated over their roles in the importation and possible distribution network. The two Nigerian suspects, also arrested, are believed to be logistics handlers and agents linked to the syndicate.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the alertness and professionalism of the officers involved in the operations. He described the bust as a victory for inter-agency cooperation and a strong warning to international cartels using Nigerian ports as drug transit routes.
“This seizure sends a clear message that Nigeria will not tolerate the trafficking of illicit substances, regardless of the nationality or status of those involved. We remain committed to protecting Nigerians, especially the youth, from the devastating impact of drug abuse,” Marwa stated.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, as the agency continues efforts to dismantle the transnational drug networks threatening the country’s public health and security.
