The Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) has recorded a serious breakthrough in its sustained crackdown on drug trafficking, securing an interim forfeiture order for 17 containers loaded with illicit opioids valued at over N33.6 billion.
The order was granted by the Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Port Harcourt, following a movement ex parte filed by the company. The ruling, delivered by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, transfers custody and management of the seized containers and their contents to the federal authorities pending the ultimate willpower of the case.
The containers had been intercepted on the Port Harcourt Ports Advanced in Onne, Rivers State, throughout a number of operations between April and September 2025.
Inside them had been a large cache of 19.6 million capsules of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, alongside 2.49 million bottles of Codeine syrup.
The overall weight of the seized psychotropic substances stood at 365,657 kilogrammes.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed ordered the interim forfeiture of the containers, describing them as illegally imported consignments introduced into Nigeria by unidentified individuals. He additionally directed that the NDLEA retain custody of the reveals till the case is totally resolved.
Reacting to the event, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Govt Officer, Buba Marwa, described the forfeiture as a decisive blow to drug cartels.
He mentioned the motion goes past a routine seizure, amounting to the dismantling of vital {financial} assets utilized by prison networks.
“This isn’t only a seizure; it’s a complete dispossession of assets meant to gas destruction, habit, and criminality. By stripping these syndicates of property price over N33.6 billion, we now have struck on the very core of their operations,” Marwa mentioned.
He additional emphasised that the transfer sends a robust sign that Nigeria is not going to tolerate the circulation of proceeds from illicit medicine, significantly these linked to organised crime and terrorism financing.
Marwa counseled the judiciary for its well timed intervention, noting that collaboration between the courts and enforcement businesses stays important within the battle towards drug trafficking.
He additionally praised NDLEA officers on the Onne Port Command for his or her vigilance and professionalism, which led to the invention of the hid shipments.
The NDLEA boss acknowledged the help of the Nigeria Customs Service and different port stakeholders, in addition to worldwide companions whose intelligence-sharing and technical help contributed to the success of the operation.
He reaffirmed the company’s resolve to accentuate efforts to dismantle drug networks and curb substance abuse throughout the nation.
Michael Olugbode
Times Nigeria