N9.8 billion worth of codeine seized by NDLEA in Rivers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says its operatives have intercepted seven containers with 1,229,400 bottles of codeine worth N9, 835,200,000.00.

According to the agency, the shipments were seized at the Onne Ports in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.

A statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, on Friday said the seizure is the fourth and last set of such consignments that had been under the watch list of the Agency’s Maritime Special Operations Unit Targeting Team.

The statement reads, “Barely three weeks after seizing 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth over N7, 350,000,000.00 in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have again intercepted another batch of seven containers bearing one million two hundred and twenty-nine thousand four hundred bottles of the same substance worth over N9,835,200,000.00 at the Onne ports.

“The latest seizure made on Thursday, July 18, 2024, is the fourth and last set of such consignments that have been under the watchlist of the Agency’s Maritime Special Operations Unit Targeting Team, which worked in partnership with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the Agency and other security agencies including the Customs Service for a 100 per cent joint examination of the targeted containers. “

Babafemi said during a joint examination with other security agencies on Thursday, seven containers were found to contain 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup, totalling 1,229,400 bottles and weighing 184,410 kilograms.

“This followed credible intelligence and months of diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure. At the joint examination of the containers with other security agencies on Thursday, all seven containers were found bearing a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup with 1, 229, 400 bottles weighing 184,410 kilograms.

“A breakdown of the shipments that came from India via the Maersk Vigo Vessel shows that the container marked SEKU 6439421 has 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles of codeine weighing 26,250kg. Other items in the container include 70 cartons of chilli cutters and 55 cartons of Hyregra tablets weighing 1,100kg,” he added.

Babafemi further stated that another container marked CMAU 9410422 containef 875 cartons of codeine with 175,000 bottles weighing 26,250 kg, adding that other items in the container included 15 cartons of chilli cutters and 60 cartons of Hyregra tablets weighing 1,200 kg.

He said another container marked TLLU 7595503 has a total of 1, 754 cartons of codeine syrup containing 179, 400 bottles weighing 26,910kg.

He said, “Four other containers marked: TRHU 515117; CMAU 7877125; CMAU 8533700; and CMAU 3882205 contain 175,000 bottles of the same substance each in addition to other items such as chilli cutters, cartons of hyregra tablets and diclofenac used to mask the shipments.”

The Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd.) commended all the officers, men and women of the various formations of the agency that made the seizure possible for their diligence, vigilance and professionalism.