By Sandra Chukwunyere
Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts received a major boost as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, intercepted illicit drugs worth over N2.63 billion and handed them over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while issuing a strong warning to drug traffickers.
The handover took place at the FOU Zone C headquarters in Owerri on April 23, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to keep dangerous substances off the streets and out of circulation.
The seizure followed sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement operations. The items recovered include more than one million Tramadol tablets, over 21,000 bottles of Codeine syrup, and hundreds of sacks of Cannabis Sativa, as well as strong variants commonly known as Ghanaian loud, Scottish loud, and colos.
Speaking during the exercise, the Comptroller of FOU Zone C, Bishir Balogun, said the scale of the seizure highlights both the growing activities of drug trafficking networks and the determination of security agencies to dismantle them.
He warned that the illegal distribution and abuse of drugs such as Tramadol and codeine-based syrups continue to fuel addiction, crime, and social instability, posing serious risks to public safety.
Balogun added that the operation goes beyond seizures, noting that it forms part of a broader strategy to disrupt supply chains and hold those behind the illicit trade accountable.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration, describing the partnership between Customs and the NDLEA as key to tracking, intercepting, and prosecuting drug offenders, in line with ongoing reforms within the Service.
Receiving the seized items, NDLEA officials assured that the agency would carry out further investigations and take necessary action to ensure the drugs do not find their way back into circulation.
With a Duty Paid Value of over N2.63 billion, the interception sends a strong warning to traffickers that enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to clamp down on illegal drug operations.
The Customs Service also called on members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information, stressing that collective vigilance is essential in building a safer and drug-free society.
