THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been granted an interim forfeiture order for 17 containers filled with illicit opioids by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

The cargol which has an estimated street value of over 33.6 billion naira (£16.1 million), was intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State during a series of searches conducted between April and September 2025.

The forfeited items includes 19.6 million pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, alongside nearly 2.5 million bottles of codeine syrup.

A statement by the Director Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA , Femi Babafemi, noted that the total weight of the psychotropic substances is recorded at 365,657 kilograms.

Babafemi revealed that Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed issued the order following an ex parte motion filed by the agency.

In his ruling, the judge stated that “An order is hereby made forfeiting in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria seventeen shipping containers containing various types of psychotropic substances illegally imported into Nigeria through the Onne Sea Port by unknown persons.”

Justice Adamu further directed that the NDLEA retain custody and possession of the containers and their contents until the final determination of the suit.

Reacting to the development on Tuesday in Abuja, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CCEO), of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), described the court’s decision as ’ death knell for the financial operations of international drug syndicates and a significant legal victory for the NDLEA in its crackdown on narcotic He said.

“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.”

He added that the forfeiture sends a clear message that the Nigerian state will not allow the proceeds of death to fund terrorism and other forms of organised crime.

Marwa commended the Nigerian judiciary for its steadfast support and timely intervention, noting that the partnership between the courts and the agency is critical to winning the war against substance abuse.

The CCEO also praised the “eagle-eyed scrutiny” of officers at the Onne Port Command and acknowledged the cooperation of the Nigeria Customs Service and international partners in the successful interdiction. (The Guardian)

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