Nigeria Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone “C” Owerri intercepts drugs worth over a billion naira
Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt.
In a major crackdown on illicit drugs trafficking, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against drug smuggling with the interception of a truck carrying 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup (100ml each) along the Okada–Ofosu Expressway in Benin City, Edo State.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Comptroller Bishir Balogun, who confirmed the seizure, said the illicit consignment, valued at a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.056 billion, was intercepted through “credible intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement” on March 15, 2026.
According to Comptroller Bishir Balogun, the truck conveying the illicit substances was flagged down by operatives but the driver attempted to evade arrest. He eventually abandoned the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush, escaping capture.
A thorough search of the truck uncovered the drugs expertly concealed among legitimate goods in a bid to escape detection.
Comptroller Balogun described the interception as proof of the Nigeria Customs Service’s unrelenting resolve to combat the smuggling of dangerous substances such as Tramadol and Codeine, key drivers of drug abuse, insecurity, and social decay across the country.
He noted, that the interception sends a strong warning to criminal gang networks involved in the illegal drug trade, emphasizing that the Service remains resolute in deploying intelligence-driven strategies to protect public health and national security.
“This is a strong message to smugglers and criminal syndicates: desist from these illicit ventures. Our operations are increasingly intelligence-driven, and we will continue to protect public health and national security,” he warned.
Further he stated that the seized drugs are currently in Customs custody, while investigations are ongoing to track down and apprehend those behind the operation.
As authorities intensify efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, this latest bust underscores both the scale of the challenge and the determination of law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of illicit substances in Nigeria.
