Customs seizes illicit drugs, contraband worth N13bn at One Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Onne Area II Command, has intercepted 20 containers loaded with illicit medicines and contraband items valued at more than N13 billion.

Outgoing Comptroller of the command, Muhammad Babandede, announced the seizure on Wednesday during a briefing in Onne, describing it as part of his final assignment before his redeployment to Lagos as an Assistant Comptroller General.

Babandede, who referred to the operation as a “parting gift,” reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to safeguarding public health and national security.

“Codeine syrup and Tramadol are often abused because of their euphoric effects, leading to addiction, dependence, and even crime,” he said.

“Recently, the command intercepted 20 containers with a combined duty-paid value exceeding N13 billion.”

He disclosed that the seizure included more than one million bottles of codeine syrup, over three million tablets of Diclofenac, more than three million tablets of Benzhexol, as well as several cartons of laboratory equipment.

According to him, the illicit medicines originated from India and were deliberately concealed to evade regulatory checks, disguised as legitimate imports.

Other contraband items discovered in the containers included used clothing, tomato paste, ceiling fans, plumbing materials, agricultural equipment, and bales of used clothes.

Babandede commended the collaboration of sister agencies in the successful operation, noting that the drugs and other consumables had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action.

He condemned the impact of drug trafficking on society, stressing that Customs would continue to intensify efforts to block smugglers from using Nigerian ports to endanger lives and compromise national security.