₦20.5bn Worth of Codeine, Tramadol Seized as Customs, NAFDAC Step Up Anti-Smuggling War
In a significant breakthrough underscoring the growing cooperation between Nigeria’s key enforcement and regulatory bodies, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 16 containers loaded with illicit pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦20.5 billion at the Port Harcourt II Area Command, Onne, Rivers State.
The seizure comes just weeks after the NCS and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) inaugurated a joint committee to implement the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening regulatory collaboration and intelligence-sharing.
Announcing the seizure at a press briefing on Friday, July 18, 2025, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the operation’s success to intelligence-driven enforcement and enhanced synergy among national security and regulatory agencies.
“Our anti-smuggling operations align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy on border security, public health, and national safety. We remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are not exploited by criminal elements,” Adeniyi said.
According to the CGC, the smugglers employed “sophisticated concealment tactics,” disguising the contraband as ordinary goods such as tomato paste, ceiling fans, and plumbing materials.
Breakdown of the Seized Items:
- 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup (100ml each)
- 12.6 million tablets of Royal Tramadol (225mg)
- 9.3 million tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac
- Other dangerous and unregistered drugs including Trodol, Hyergra, Bisoveu, and Bassuka
“This seizure sends a clear message to criminal networks, the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with our enforcement counterparts, maintains zero tolerance for smuggling. We will bring the full weight of the law to bear on all perpetrators,” Adeniyi warned.
The seized containers were officially handed over to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, for further regulatory action.
Reacting to the seizure, Professor Adeyeye praised the Customs Service’s vigilance and described the consignment as a grave public health threat.
“Frankly, it was shocking. These products could destroy lives: Codeine, Tramadol, and counterfeit painkillers. The fact that some were hidden in tomato paste shows clear criminal intent. This isn’t business; this is murder for profit,” she said.
She confirmed that all products would be subjected to thorough laboratory analysis, documentation, and eventual destruction.
“We are WHO-certified, with international-standard laboratories and well-trained personnel. These products will never make it into the Nigerian market,” she assured.
Issuing a stern warning to drug smugglers, the NAFDAC boss labelled the importers “merchants of death”, stressing that Nigeria will not be a dumping ground for counterfeit or substandard pharmaceuticals.
The Customs Area Controller of PH II Onne Command, Comptroller Muhammed Babandede, called the seizure “brief but historic,” and emphasized the collective efforts of multiple agencies, including the NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“The seizure involved eleven 40-foot containers of illicit medicines, four micro containers of bottled water, and one container of salt. This success reflects the strength of our collaboration, which aligns with the Service’s policy of unity through cooperation, consolidation, and innovation,” Babandede said.
This operation follows a separate major interception last week at Apapa Port, where 25 containers of substandard medical devices were impounded.
All participating agencies reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and enforcement in line with national security strategies and global health standards. Read More
