Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted another batch of seven containers bearing 1,229,400 bottles of the same substance worth over N9.835 billion at the Onne ports.
According to the NDLEA, this is coming barely three weeks after seizing 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth over N7.35 billion in street value at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State.
The latest seizure, made on Thursday, July 18, 2024, is the fourth and final set of such consignments that have been under the watch of the Agency’s Maritime Special Operations Unit Targeting Team, the statement said.
“This operation, conducted in partnership with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the Agency and other security agencies, including the Customs Service, involved a 100 percent joint examination of the targeted containers following credible intelligence and months of diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure.
“During the joint examination of the containers with other security agencies on Thursday, all seven containers were found bearing a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup with 1,229,400 bottles weighing 184,410 kilograms.”
A breakdown of the shipments from India via the Maersk Vigo Vessel reveals the following:
- Container SEKU 6439421: 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles of codeine weighing 26,250 kg. Other items include 70 cartons of chilli 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. Other items include 15 cartons of chilli cutters and 60 cartons of hyregra tablets weighing 1,200 kg.
- Container TLLU 7595503: 1,754 cartons of codeine syrup containing 179,400 bottles weighing 26,910 kg.
- Containers TRHU 515117, CMAU 7877125, CMAU 8533700, and CMAU 3882205: Each containing 175,000 bottles of codeine in addition to other items such as chilli cutters, cartons of hyregra tablets, and diclofenac used to mask the shipments.
Responding to the latest seizure, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended all the officers, men, and women of the various formations of the NDLEA who had been working on the targeted containers for months for their diligence, vigilance, and professionalism.
He also praised the support received from other stakeholders at the ports that enabled the seamless and successful operations in targeting the shipments.
He stated that the operation by the NDLEA, which has inflicted heavy losses on the cartels behind the shipments, has further degraded their capacity and financial base.
