The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Friday that its officers had intercepted a massive shipment of codeine syrup valued at over N9.8 billion at the Onne ports. This latest seizure involved seven containers holding a total of 1,229,400 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, stated, “The seizure, made on Thursday, July 18, 2024, is the fourth and final batch of such shipments that the Agency’s Maritime Special Operations Unit has been monitoring. The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Ports Command and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, for a comprehensive examination of the containers.”
Babafemi explained that the joint operation followed credible intelligence and several months of tracking the consignments from their departure port in India. During the joint inspection on Thursday, all seven containers were found to contain a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine syrup, equating to 1,229,400 bottles weighing 184,410 kilograms.
The shipment arrived via the Maersk Vigo Vessel and included:
- Container SEKU 6439421: 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles of codeine, weighing 26,250 kg, along with 70 cartons of chili cutters and 55 cartons of hyregra tablets, weighing 1,100 kg.
- Container CMAU 9410422: 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles of codeine, weighing 26,250 kg, plus 15 cartons of chili cutters and 60 cartons of hyregra tablets, weighing 1,200 kg.
- Container TLLU 7595503: 1,754 cartons of codeine syrup with 179,400 bottles, weighing 26,910 kg.
- Containers TRHU 515117, CMAU 7877125, CMAU 8533700, and CMAU 3882205: Each containing 175,000 bottles of codeine, along with other items like chili cutters, hyregra tablets, and diclofenac to mask the shipments.
Just three weeks prior, NDLEA officers seized 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State. This earlier seizure amounted to 1,050,000 bottles of codeine, valued at over N7.3 billion.
Responding to the latest operation, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) praised the officers for their diligence, vigilance, and professionalism. He also acknowledged the support from other stakeholders at the ports, which facilitated the successful interception of the shipments. Marwa emphasized that these operations have dealt a significant blow to the financial base and capabilities of the drug cartels responsible for the shipments.
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