- The spokesperson also disclosed seizures in Niger and Bauchi states, yielding tramadol, codeine syrup, exol-5 tablets, and 246.4kg of cannabis concealed in a bus compartment
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted various quantities of tramadol pills and codeine-based syrup at the
Port Harcourt port complex, Onne, Rivers state and Tincan seaport in Lagos.
In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said seizures were made after intelligence on shipments from India prompted a thorough examination of containers with Customs and other security agencies.
According to him, “the breakdown of the seizures showed that 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from two containers at Tincan port in Lagos on August 29 and 30, 2024.”
“Operatives of the agency intercepted a total of 31,124, 600 pills of tramadol 225mg and bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N17, 932, 200, 000.00 in street value at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state and Tincan seaport in Lagos,” the statement reads.
“Each of the two containers had 175,000 bottles of the opioid.
“At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted a total of 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg containing 29 840,000 pills of the opioid as well as 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup from three containers on Thursday, August 29.
“The tramadol shipments came under different brand names such as Royal Tapetadol, Carisoprodol 225mg and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg.”
Babafemi said “another set of three containers watch-listed by the agency underwent a joint examination the next day.”
The NDLEA spokesperson added that at the end of the exercise, a total of 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup, containing 554,600 bottles of the opioid, were recovered from them.
“This brings the total bottles of codeine seized at Onne, Rivers and Tincan in Lagos to 1,284,600 bottles worth N8,992,200,000.00 in street value while the combined seizure of tramadol stood at 29, 840,000 pills valued at N8,940,000,000.00”, he said.
Also speaking, the NDLEA spokesperson said
Eze Emekan Don, a suspect, was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport on August 27th while attempting to board a flight with 1,490 tramadol pills concealed as cosmetics.
The spokesperson added that the suspect’s attempt to bribe officers to evade arrest was unsuccessful, and he was taken into custody with the seized tramadol pills.
Babafemi said 1,122kg of cannabis was seized from one Mustapha Ibrahim in Ajah, Lagos, on August 26, with an additional 816kg recovered from the same location, linked to a suspect at large.
The spokesperson also disclosed seizures in Niger and Bauchi states, yielding tramadol, codeine syrup, exol-5 tablets, and 246.4kg of cannabis concealed in a bus compartment.