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By Tracy Moses
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a staggering consignment of contraband drugs at the Onne Port in Rivers State, seizing 16 containers, 11 of which were loaded with illicit pharmaceutical products, worth over ₦20 billion in street value.
This was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing held Friday at the Port Harcourt II Area Command, where he described the seizure as “a major victory in Nigeria’s ongoing war against transnational crime and drug trafficking.”
“These criminals went to great lengths to conceal their activities,” Adeniyi said. “They hid the drugs beneath what appeared to be legitimate imports, ceiling fans, kitchenware, plumbing materials, and even tins of tomato paste. It was a sophisticated attempt to bypass our checks, but our officers were vigilant.”
Among the intercepted substances were large volumes of codeine syrup, tramadol, diclofenac, trodol, muscle relaxants, and unregistered brands like hyergra, bisoveu, and bassuka. The drugs were discovered concealed alongside goods typically associated with legitimate commercial imports.
“If these drugs had found their way into Nigerian markets, the consequences would have been catastrophic,” Adeniyi warned. “We are talking about the potential for widespread addiction, ineffective and harmful treatments, and further strengthening of criminal drug syndicates.”
He revealed that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted goods stood at ₦20,549,998,200, calculated using standard valuation metrics.
Highlighting the government’s resolve, Adeniyi noted that the operation aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s mandate to secure national borders and protect public health.
“Our anti-smuggling campaign is not just about seizing goods, it is about safeguarding our society,” he said. “Every container we intercept represents countless lives protected from harm, and a message to traffickers that Nigeria will not be a safe haven for their operations.”
The Customs boss praised the officers involved in the seizure for their vigilance, describing their actions as a “model of professionalism, patriotism, and duty.”
He also reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to collaboration, stressing that the success of the operation was a result of strong inter-agency cooperation. “Our success today is not ours alone. It is a testament to what we can achieve when agencies unite for a common cause,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, Controller of the Port Harcourt II Area Command, attributed the breakthrough to seamless intelligence-sharing and effective teamwork across security lines.
“We worked closely with the NDLEA, NAFDAC, and DSS to monitor these shipments. This is how inter-agency synergy should function, and we’re proud to say it delivered real results,” Babandede stated.
He disclosed that the seizure included eleven 40-foot containers carrying pharmaceutical contraband, four 20-foot containers filled with banned tomato paste, and one 40-foot container loaded with prohibited soap products.
“These seizures reflect our deepened capacity to detect and intercept harmful imports,” Babandede added. “No matter how sophisticated the concealment, we will uncover and act.”
He commended the Comptroller-General for his leadership and policy direction, noting: “The leadership of the Comptroller-General has energized our approach, collaboration, consolidation, and innovation are no longer buzzwords. They are our operational ethos.”
Babandede also issued a stern warning to those behind such criminal ventures: “This should serve as a strong signal. Our borders are not porous. We are on alert. We are ready. And we will act.”
Adeniyi concluded by pledging continued vigilance and decisive action against drug traffickers and smugglers.
“Let it be known that this is just one of many operations we are undertaking,” he declared. “As long as smugglers plot, we will foil. As long as they attempt to endanger Nigerians, we will intercept. There is no hiding place.”