Customs Seize Illicit Drugs Worth Over ₦1bn in Benin, Foil Smuggling Attempt
Customs Seize Illicit Drugs Worth Over ₦1bn in Benin, Foil Smuggling Attempt
Customs Seize Illicit Drugs Worth Over ₦1bn in Benin, Foil Smuggling Attempt
Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, have intercepted a large consignment of illicit drugs valued at over ₦1 billion along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin City.
The Comptroller of the Unit, Bishir Balogun, disclosed this during a press briefing on April 10, 2026, noting that the seizure followed credible intelligence and a coordinated enforcement operation carried out on March 15, 2026.
According to him, officers intercepted a truck conveying 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup (100ml each), which were carefully concealed among legitimate goods in a bid to evade detection.
“When flagged down, the driver attempted to evade officers but eventually parked, jumped out, and fled into nearby bushland. A subsequent search revealed the drugs cleverly concealed among legitimate goods to evade detection. The seized drugs have a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,056,000,000.00,” Balogun stated.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to combating the smuggling of prohibited substances, stressing that drugs such as Tramadol and Codeine pose serious threats to public health and contribute to rising criminal activities.
“Smugglers and criminal networks are hereby warned to abandon their illegal activities, as the Nigeria Customs Service will continue deploying intelligence-led strategies to safeguard public health and national security,” he warned.
Balogun added that the seized drugs are currently in Customs custody, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend all individuals linked to the illegal shipment.
Customs Seize Illicit Drugs Worth Over ₦1bn in Benin, Foil Smuggling Attempt
