Customs Strikes Big In Rivers! Over ₦20bn Worth Of Illicit Drugs Seized In Explosive Bust

₦20 Billion Drug Haul Seized by Customs in Rivers State as Smuggling Cartel Crumbles

In a sweeping anti-smuggling operation at the Onne Port in Rivers State, the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 16 containers of contraband, 11 of which were filled with illicit pharmaceutical products, with an estimated duty-paid value exceeding ₦20.5 billion.

According to iReporter Online, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this development during a press briefing at the Port Harcourt II Area Command on Friday, highlighting the seizure as part of intensified enforcement efforts across Nigeria’s high-risk entry points.

Adeniyi explained that the illicit drugs, including over 1.3 million bottles of Codeine Syrup and more than 27 million tablets of unregistered drugs such as Tramadol, Diclofenac, Tapentadol, and others, were cleverly hidden beneath legitimate consumer items like ceiling fans, plumbing materials, chilly cutters, vehicle parts, and tomato paste to escape detection.

“These items were deliberately camouflaged among consumer goods to exploit legal import routes and dodge regulatory scrutiny,” Adeniyi said, adding that the sophistication of concealment revealed the operations of a well-structured transnational criminal network.

He warned that had the drugs made it into the country, the consequences for public health and national security would have been catastrophic, citing risks such as rising drug addiction rates, compromised treatment outcomes, and the fueling of organized crime.

According to iReporter Online, the Customs boss emphasized that this seizure aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader strategy to combat transnational crime and fortify Nigeria’s borders. He reassured the public of Customs’ unwavering dedication to protecting national integrity through intelligence-led operations and collaborative enforcement.

“This success was achieved not in isolation,” noted Mohammed Babandede, the Area Controller of Port Harcourt II Command. “We worked closely with agencies like NDLEA, NAFDAC, and DSS. Such synergy is the cornerstone of our operations under the CGC’s policy thrust of collaboration, consolidation, and innovation.”

According to iReporter Online, Adeniyi commended the officers for their professionalism and vigilance, stating that the Customs Service remains resolute in deploying every available resource to eliminate the importation of illegal goods and ensure Nigeria’s borders remain fortified against criminal infiltration.

The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on smuggling, vowing to bring perpetrators to justice while continuing to play a vital role in supporting President Tinubu’s national security and economic reform agenda.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”