The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Capital Territory Command, has intercepted a massive consignment of tramadol valued at over ₦8.6 billion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The seizure, made on Saturday, April 5, 2025, was officially unveiled during a press briefing held on Monday, April 7, at the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, Customs Area Controller of the FCT Command, led the inspection of the seized cargo and condemned the continued smuggling of illicit drugs into the country. He described the act as dangerous and unpatriotic, warning that such drugs often end up in the hands of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements threatening Nigeria’s peace and stability.

He stated that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted tramadol stood at ₦8,654,800,000, and pledged that the Command would intensify efforts to tackle smuggling activities in the FCT and beyond. Adebisi acknowledged the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, under whose leadership the Command has strengthened its enforcement capacity.

In line with inter-agency collaboration, the seized tramadol was officially handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the airport. Commandant Muhammad Jidda of the NDLEA received the items in the presence of representatives from other security agencies.

Commending the Customs Service for its vigilance, Jidda described the seizure as a model example of inter-agency cooperation and reiterated the NDLEA’s commitment to investigating the source and destination of the drugs. He assured that those found culpable would be prosecuted according to the law.

The operation marks another milestone in the ongoing war against drug trafficking and its links to insecurity in Nigeria.