Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted a truck loaded with 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup (100ml each) along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin City, Edo State.
Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Bishir Balogun disclosed that the illicit drugs with a Duty Paid Value ( DPV) of N1,056billion was intercepted through strategic intelligence and coordinated enforcement on March 15, 2026.
According to him, when flagged down, the driver attempted to evade officers but eventually parked, jumped out, and fled into nearby bushland.
He said a subsequent search revealed the drugs cleverly concealed among legitimate goods to evade detection.
Comptroller Balogun stressed that this operation underscores the Service’s unwavering commitment to curbing the smuggling of prohibited substances like Tramadol and Codeine, which fuel drug addiction and crime nationwide.
He warned smugglers and criminal networks to abandon their illegal activities, as the Nigeria Customs Service will continue deploying intelligence-led strategies to safeguard public health and national security.
The seized consignment, he said, is in custody, with investigations underway to apprehend those responsible.
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