By Joke Kujenya
OPERATIVES OF the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a shipment of one million two hundred twenty-nine thousand four hundred bottles of codeine syrup.
This latest seizure, made on Thursday, July 18, 2024, is valued at over N9.8 billion.
This is also the fourth and final batch of containers that have been under surveillance by the Agency’s Maritime Special Operations Unit.
The unit collaborated with the Port Harcourt Ports Command and other security agencies, including the Customs Service, for a thorough examination of the containers.
The operation was based on credible intelligence and months of diligent tracking from the consignment’s port of departure.
During the joint examination, seven containers were found with a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup, weighing 184,410 kilograms.
The shipments arrived from India via the Maersk Vigo vessel.
Detailed breakdown of the shipment reveal:
- Container SEKU 6439421: 875 cartons, 175,000 bottles, weighing 26,250kg.
- Container CMAU 9410422: 875 cartons, 175,000 bottles, weighing 26,250kg.
- Container TLLU 7595503: 1,754 cartons, 179,400 bottles, weighing 26,910kg.
- Containers TRHU 515117, CMAU 7877125, CMAU 8533700, and CMAU 3882205: 175,000 bottles each.
Additional items in the containers included chili cutters, hyregra tablets, and diclofenac, used to mask the shipments.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), in his regular manner, commended the officers for their vigilance and professionalism.
He also acknowledged the support from other stakeholders at the ports, which contributed to the successful operation.
Marwa noted that the operation had inflicted heavy losses on the drug cartels, further degrading their capacity and financial base.
