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Customs FOU ‘C’ Strikes Drug Smugglers with Seizures of Concealed Tramadol, Codeine

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Customs FOU ‘C’ Strikes Drug Smugglers with Seizures of Concealed Tramadol, Codeine By Lucy Nyambi Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, have intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs worth over ₦1 billion, concealed within legitimate goods along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin City. The Comptroller of the Unit, Bishir Balogun, disclosed during a press briefing on Friday, 10 April 2026, that the interception was carried out on 15 March 2026 following credible intelligence and a coordinated enforcement operation. According to him, officers intercepted a truck loaded with 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup (100ml each), which were carefully concealed among legitimate goods in an attempt to evade detection. "When flagged down, the driver attempted to evade officers but eventually parked, jumped out, and fled into nearby bushland. A subsequent search revealed the drugs cleverly concealed among legitimate goods to evade detection. The seized drugs have a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,056,000,000.00", Comptroller Balogun said. He emphasised the Service’s resolve to combat the smuggling of prohibited substances, noting that drugs such as Tramadol and Codeine contribute significantly to addiction and criminal activities. "Smugglers and criminal networks are hereby warned to abandon their illegal activities, as the Nigeria Customs Service will continue deploying intelligence-led strategies to safeguard public health and national security", Balogun warned. Comptroller Balogun further stated that the seized drugs are currently in Customs custody, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend all those connected to the illegal shipment.

By Lucy Nyambi

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, have intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs worth over ₦1 billion, concealed within legitimate goods along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin City.

The Comptroller of the Unit, Bishir Balogun, disclosed during a press briefing on Friday, 10 April 2026, that the interception was carried out on 15 March 2026 following credible intelligence and a coordinated enforcement operation.

According to him, officers intercepted a truck loaded with 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup (100ml each), which were carefully concealed among legitimate goods in an attempt to evade detection.

“When flagged down, the driver attempted to evade officers but eventually parked, jumped out, and fled into nearby bushland. A subsequent search revealed the drugs cleverly concealed among legitimate goods to evade detection. The seized drugs have a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,056,000,000.00”, Comptroller Balogun said.

He emphasised the Service’s resolve to combat the smuggling of prohibited substances, noting that drugs such as Tramadol and Codeine contribute significantly to addiction and criminal activities.

“Smugglers and criminal networks are hereby warned to abandon their illegal activities, as the Nigeria Customs Service will continue deploying intelligence-led strategies to safeguard public health and national security”, Balogun warned.

Comptroller Balogun further stated that the seized drugs are currently in Customs custody, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend all those connected to the illegal shipment.

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5 1 minute read
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