The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of 175,000 bottles of opioids imported from India at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State. This follows a similar seizure of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the same location a week earlier.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy for NDLEA, stated on Sunday that these seizures were the result of prior intelligence, prompting the agency to request a thorough 100 percent examination of the shipments. The latest seizure, made on Friday, June 7, 2024, involved 875 cartons containing 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup, weighing a total of 26,250 kg. This operation was conducted jointly by the NDLEA, Customs Service, and other security agencies.
The statement reads in part, “Barely a week after seizing a shipment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have again intercepted another consignment of 175,000 bottles of the same opioid imported from India.
“The two seizures followed earlier intelligence, which made the Agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 percent examination. The latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine containing 175,000 bottles and weighing 26,250 kg, was made on Friday, 7th June 2024 during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service, and other security agencies. The container marked HASU 4787890 from India was en route to the C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.
“In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on Wednesday, 5th June, intercepted five different parcels containing illicit drugs concealed in ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair going to the United States and United Kingdom.”
“Some of the seized drugs include 620 ampoules of pentazocine injection, promethazine, and other opioids. The drug consignments were seized at a courier firm in Lagos,” the statement added.