Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - The Federal High Court, Port Harcourt has granted an interim forfeiture order for 17 containers laden with illicit opioids worth over N33.6 billion in street value.
A statement released by the agency this morning April 21, said the containers, which were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, on 4th September; 14th August; 13th August; 29th July; 13th June; 30th May; 29th May; 28th May; 20th May; 19th May; 14th May and 29th April, all in 2025, contain a staggering haul of Nineteen Million Six Hundred Thousand (19,600,000) pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, as well as Two Million Four Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Four Hundred (2,496,400) bottles of Codeine Syrup. The combined street value of the seizures is estimated at Thirty-Three Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N33,691,200,000).
Babafemi mentioned that the forfeiture order was issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, following a motion exparte filed by the NDLEA on 10th February 2026 in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026.
Ruling on the application, Justice Adamu said
“An order is
hereby made forfeiting in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria
seventeen (17) shipping containers containing a total, of three hundred and
sixty-five thousand, six hundred and seventy-five (365,657kg) of various types
of psychotropic substances, as well as other items as stated in the schedule to
this application, illegally imported into Nigeria through the Onne Sea Port,
Onne, Eleme, Rivers State by unknown persons.”
He further ruled that “An order is hereby made vesting
custody and possession of the said containers and their respective contents to
the Applicant/Complainant untiI the final determination of this Suit.”
Reacting to the court’s order, the Chairman/Chief Executive
Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described the forfeiture
as a death knell for the financial nerves of the criminal syndicates involved.
According to him
"This
is not just a seizure, it is a total dispossession of the resources the drug
cartels intended to use in destroying the lives of our youths and funding
further criminality. By stripping the criminal syndicates of assets worth over
N33.6 billion, we have struck at the heart of their operations. This sends a
clear message: the Nigerian state will not allow the proceeds of death to
circulate to fund terrorism and other forms of criminality in our
country."
While commending the Nigerian Judiciary for its steadfast
support and timely intervention in granting the interim forfeiture, Marwa noted
that the partnership between the temple of justice and the agency is critical
to winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He further lauded the officers, men and women of NDLEA,
particularly those attached to the Onne Port Command, for their vigilance,
professional integrity, and eagle-eyed scrutiny that led to the discovery of
the concealed drugs. The NDLEA Chairman also acknowledged the vital role played
by sister security agencies including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and
other port stakeholders whose cooperation ensured a seamless interdiction
process.
He also commended international partners for their continued
intelligence sharing and technical support which remains a cornerstone of the
agency’s success, adding that the Agency remains resolute in its mission to
dismantle drug networks across the country.
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