The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a staggering 25 million pills of tapentadol, a potent opioid, and 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Tincan Port in Lagos. The seizures, with a total street value of ₦16.175 billion, were made between September 17th and 20th from three containers on the agency’s watchlist.
The tapentadol consignment, which was packed in 500 cartons, alone is valued at ₦13.725 billion. Meanwhile, the codeine consignment, divided into 175,000 bottles of Barcadin syrup and 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup, is worth ₦2.45 billion.
NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the officers involved, stating, “Their operational successes and balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction are well appreciated.”
Additionally, an 80-year-old man, Pa Aremu Shojobi, was arrested with 14 kilograms of cannabis at his Lagos home. Shojobi admitted he had been selling illicit drugs for 25 years, sourcing his supply from the Benin Republic.
Other notable arrests include a community leader in Badagry, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, whose wives and son were found with 226 kilograms of cannabis. In Kano, a drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony, was arrested at the airport after excreting 76 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.267 kilograms.
The agency continues its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, spreading awareness through schools, marketplaces, and communities across Nigeria.