The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured an interim forfeiture order for 17 containers loaded with illicit opioids valued at over ₦33.6 billion, following a ruling by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The order was granted by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed after an ex parte motion filed by the agency in February 2026.
The containers, intercepted at the Onne Port Complex between April and September 2025, were found to contain a massive quantity of banned substances.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the seizure included 19.6 million pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, alongside 2,496,400 bottles of codeine syrup.
The total street value of the drugs is estimated at ₦33,691,200,000.
The court ordered the interim forfeiture of the 365,657 kilograms of psychotropic substances to the Federal Government, noting that they were illegally imported into Nigeria by unidentified individuals.
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Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the forfeiture as a significant victory against drug trafficking networks.
He stated that the move not only disrupts criminal operations but also prevents harmful substances from reaching Nigerian youths.
Marwa emphasized that stripping drug cartels of such high-value assets sends a strong warning to traffickers and helps cut off funding channels linked to organized crime and terrorism.
He also commended the judiciary, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies for their collaboration, as well as international partners for intelligence support.
The development is part of ongoing efforts by the NDLEA to combat the growing influx of opioids and other dangerous substances into the country, particularly through major entry points like the Onne Port Complex.
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