Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has secured a landmark interim forfeiture order for 17 shipping containers packed with illicit opioids valued at more than N33.6 billion, dealing what officials called a decisive blow to drug trafficking networks operating through Nigerian seaports. The order was granted by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt following an ex parte motion filed by the agency on February 10, 2026, in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026. The containers, intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, between April and September 2025, contained a staggering 19.6 million pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, alongside 2,496,400 bottles of codeine syrup. The combined street value of the haul has been estimated at N33,691,200,000, one of the largest single drug busts in the country’s history.
Ruling on the application, Justice Mohammed declared that the containers and their contents are forfeited in the interim to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The judge’s order specifically covered 17 shipping containers containing a total of 365,657 kilogrammes of various psychotropic substances illegally imported through the Onne Sea Port by unknown persons. He further ordered that custody and possession of the containers and their contents be vested in the NDLEA pending the final determination of the suit. The ruling effectively transfers ownership of the massive drug consignment to the state, stripping the criminal syndicates behind the importation of assets worth billions of naira.
The interception of the 17 containers was not a single operation but a sustained campaign spanning several months. The containers were seized on multiple dates in 2025, including April 29, May 14, May 19, May 20, May 28, May 29, May 30, June 13, July 29, August 13, August 14, and September 4. Each interception represented a separate victory in the agency’s intelligence-driven crackdown on drug cartels exploiting Nigeria’s porous port system. The sheer volume of the seizures, 19.6 million pills and 2.49 million bottles of codeine syrup, underscores the scale of the illicit drug trade flowing through the Onne Port complex, which has increasingly become a preferred corridor for traffickers seeking to bypass the more heavily policed Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.
Reacting to the court’s order, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), described the forfeiture as a death knell for the financial nerves of the criminal syndicates involved. “This is not just a seizure; it is a total dispossession of the resources the drug cartels intended to use in destroying the lives of our youths and funding further criminality,” Marwa said. He added, “By stripping the criminal syndicates of assets worth over N33.6 billion, we have struck at the heart of their operations. This sends a clear message: the Nigerian state will not allow the proceeds of death to circulate to fund terrorism and other forms of criminality in our country.” Marwa’s words reflect a growing recognition within Nigeria’s security establishment that drug trafficking is not merely a public health issue but a direct enabler of terrorism, banditry, and organised crime.
The NDLEA chairman also took time to commend the Nigerian judiciary for its steadfast support and timely intervention in granting the interim forfeiture. He noted that the partnership between the temple of justice and the agency is critical to winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. Marwa further lauded the officers, men, and women of the NDLEA, particularly those attached to the Onne Port Command, for their vigilance, professional integrity, and eagle-eyed scrutiny that led to the discovery of the concealed drugs. He also acknowledged the vital role played by sister security agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, and other port stakeholders, whose cooperation ensured a seamless interdiction process. International partners were also commended for their continued intelligence sharing and technical support, which remain a cornerstone of the agency’s success.
The Onne Port seizure is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of escalating drug interdiction efforts across Nigeria. In June 2025, the NDLEA intercepted seven watch-listed containers containing opioids and codeine syrup valued at N9.3 billion at the same port complex. In March 2026, the agency reported the seizure of 3,398 cartons of codeine syrup valued at N3.39 billion at the port, as well as the dismantling of a major opioid cartel in Lagos in November 2025 where drugs worth N6.7 billion were recovered. More recently, the NDLEA arrested 104 suspects and seized illicit drugs worth over N1.8 billion in Edo State during the first quarter of 2026. These figures suggest that despite sustained enforcement efforts, the volume of illicit drugs flowing into the country remains alarmingly high, and the traffickers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods.
The significance of the court’s interim forfeiture order cannot be overstated. Under Nigerian law, an interim forfeiture order allows the state to take temporary possession of assets believed to be proceeds of crime before a full trial is concluded. This legal tool is particularly valuable in drug trafficking cases, where the identity of the importers is often concealed behind shell companies and front agents. By granting the order, Justice Mohammed has enabled the NDLEA to permanently remove the drugs from circulation and deny the cartels the opportunity to reclaim their merchandise through protracted legal battles. The agency will retain custody of the containers and their contents until the final determination of the suit, effectively ensuring that the N33.6 billion worth of opioids will never reach the streets.
As the NDLEA continues its offensive against drug trafficking networks, the Onne Port seizure stands as a testament to what can be achieved through sustained intelligence work, interagency cooperation, and judicial support. Yet the battle is far from over. The traffickers, though dealt a heavy financial blow, are likely to adapt and seek new routes and methods. For the NDLEA, the challenge remains to stay one step ahead, to protect the nation’s youth from the scourge of addiction, and to ensure that Nigeria does not become a safe haven for the global drug trade. The interim forfeiture of these 17 containers is a major victory, but it is only one chapter in an ongoing war.
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