…Hidden cargo exposes deepening trafficking network
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri, has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained war against illicit drug trafficking, intercepting a massive consignment of controlled substances valued at over one billion naira.
The Comptroller in charge of the Unit, Bishir Balogun, disclosed this in a statement issued on April 11, 2026, detailing how the intelligence driven operation led to the interception along the Okada Ofosu Expressway in Benin City, Edo State.
According to him, the seizure comprised an astonishing 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup, each carefully concealed to beat security checks.
He revealed that the operation was executed on March 15, 2026, following credible intelligence and coordinated enforcement efforts by vigilant operatives of the Unit.
Balogun explained that upon sighting Customs officers, the driver of the truck attempted to evade arrest but was eventually forced to stop, after which he abandoned the vehicle and escaped into a nearby bush.
A thorough examination of the truck, he said, uncovered the illicit drugs hidden among legitimate goods, a tactic commonly deployed by smugglers to deceive enforcement agencies.
The Comptroller put the Duty Paid Value of the seized items at One Billion and Fifty Six Million Naira, describing the interception as a significant blow to criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking.
He noted that the smuggling of substances such as Tramadol and Codeine continues to pose grave dangers, fueling addiction, insecurity, and social instability across the country.
Balogun reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s resolve to intensify intelligence based operations, warning that those engaged in illicit trade would find no safe haven.
He added that the seized consignment remains in custody, while investigations have commenced to track down and apprehend those behind the operation.