NDLEA seizes N9.8 billion codeine cough syrup consignment at Onne Port

Nigeria’s drug law enforcement agencies have scored a major victory in the war against prescription drug abuse.

In a major operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted seven containers containing over 1.2 million bottles of codeine cough syrup with a street value of N9.8 billion.

The seizure took place on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at the Port of Onne in Rivers State. According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the containers originated from India and arrived on the Maersk Vigo. The seven containers were found to be carrying a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup, weighing over 184,000 kilograms.

A statement from Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, said, “The latest seizure made on Thursday, July 18, 2024 is the fourth and final shipment on the watch list of the Agency’s Maritime Special Operations Unit Targeting Team, in collaboration with the Agency’s Port Harcourt Port Command and other security agencies.

“These agencies include the Nigerian Customs Service to conduct 100 percent joint inspection of the targeted containers.

ALSO READ: Nigerian couple living in India wanted by NDLEA, four cartel members arrested

“This was done following credible intelligence information and careful tracking over months of the shipment from its port of departure.

“In a joint inspection of the containers with other security agencies on Thursday, it was found that the seven containers contained a total of 8,774 cartons of codeine-based cough medicine, with 1,229,400 bottles weighing 184,410 kilograms.

“Details of the shipment coming from India via the Maersk Vigo show that the container marked SEKU 6439421 had 875 cartons with 175,000 bottles of codeine weighing 26,250 kg.

“Other items in the container included 70 cartons of chili cutters and 55 cartons of hyregra tablets weighing 1,100 kg.”

This is the second major seizure of codeine cough syrup at Onne Port in recent weeks. Just three weeks earlier, the NDLEA intercepted another shipment containing 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup, worth N7.4 billion.

The surge in codeine tapping raises concerns about the potential for increased prescription drug abuse in Nigeria. Codeine, an opioid pain medication, can be highly addictive if misused.

The post NDLEA seizes consignment of codeine cough medicine worth N9.8 billion at Onne Port appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.