The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, has intercepted over one million tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine Syrup valued at N1.05 billion along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin, Edo State.
Comptroller of the Unit, Bishir Balogun, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, describing the seizure as a breakthrough in the ongoing fight against illicit drug trafficking.
Balogun said the interception was achieved through strategic intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement operations. According to him, operatives of the unit stopped a truck conveying 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine Syrup (100ml each) along the busy expressway in Benin City.
He explained that the driver of the truck attempted to evade arrest when flagged down but eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby bushland.
A thorough search of the vehicle, he added, revealed that the drugs were cleverly concealed among legitimate goods in a bid to avoid detection. The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items was put at N1.05 billion.
The Comptroller emphasized that the operation highlights the Service’s commitment to tackling the smuggling of prohibited substances such as Tramadol and Codeine, which he noted contribute significantly to drug abuse and criminal activities across the country.
He warned smugglers and criminal networks to desist from illegal activities, stressing that the NCS will continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies to protect public health and national security.
Balogun further stated that the seized consignment remains in the custody of the Service, while investigations are ongoing to apprehend those behind the illicit shipment.
