By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on drug trafficking, following an interim forfeiture order granted by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for 17 containers loaded with illicit opioids valued at over N33.6 billion.
In an official signed statement, the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the containers were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, on multiple dates between April and September 2025.
According to the statement, the seized consignments contained 19.6 million pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, as well as 2,496,400 bottles of Codeine syrup, with a combined street value estimated at N33,691,200,000.
The forfeiture order was issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, following an ex parte motion filed by the agency on February 10, 2026.
In his ruling, the judge ordered that the 17 containers, which contained 365,657 kilograms of various psychotropic substances illegally imported into the country, be forfeited to the Federal Government in the interim, pending the final determination of the case. He also vested custody of the containers and their contents in the NDLEA.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the forfeiture as a decisive blow to the financial backbone of drug cartels.
“This is not just a seizure, it is a total dispossession of the resources the drug cartels intended to use in destroying the lives of our youths and funding further criminality. By stripping the criminal syndicates of assets worth over N33.6 billion, we have struck at the heart of their operations,” he said.
Marwa added that the action sends a strong signal that Nigeria will not allow proceeds from illicit drug trade to fuel crime, terrorism, or social instability.
He commended the judiciary for its prompt intervention and reaffirmed that collaboration between the courts and law enforcement agencies remains critical in the fight against drug trafficking.
The NDLEA boss also praised officers of the Onne Port Command for their vigilance and professionalism, while acknowledging the support of the Nigeria Customs Service and other port stakeholders whose cooperation facilitated the successful interception.
He further recognised the contributions of international partners through intelligence sharing and technical assistance, noting that such collaboration continues to strengthen the agency’s operational capacity.
The NDLEA reiterated its resolve to intensify efforts aimed at dismantling drug networks and curbing the menace of substance abuse across the country.
