Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully intercepted a significant drug shipment at Onne Ports, comprising seven containers with 1,229,400 bottles of codeine syrup valued at ₦9.8 billion.
This latest seizure on Thursday, July 18, 2024, follows a similar operation just three weeks prior, where 6,125 cartons containing 1,050,000 bottles of codeine syrup worth ₦7.35 billion were confiscated at Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State.
This marks the fourth and final seizure of such consignments by the NDLEA’s Maritime Special Operations Unit Targeting Team, in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Ports Command and other security agencies, including the Customs Service. The operation involved a thorough joint examination of the targeted containers, based on credible intelligence and months of meticulous tracking from the consignments’ departure point.
The seven containers, arriving from India via the Maersk Vigo Vessel, contained a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine syrup. The breakdown of the shipments includes:
- Container SEKU 6439421: 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles, along with 70 cartons of chili cutters and 55 cartons of Hyregra tablets.
- Container CMAU 9410422: 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles, plus 15 cartons of chili cutters and 60 cartons of Hyregra tablets.
- Container TLLU 7595503: 1,754 cartons with 179,400 bottles.
- Containers TRHU 515117, CMAU 7877125, CMAU 8533700, and CMAU 3882205: Each containing 175,000 bottles of codeine syrup, among other items.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Rtd Gen Mohamed Marwa, praised the diligence and professionalism of the agency’s officers and the collaborative effort of port stakeholders. He highlighted that the operation not only dealt a severe financial blow to the cartels but also significantly weakened their operational capacity.
