NDLEA Secures Court-Ordered Forfeiture of N33.6bn Opioids Seized at Onne Port

NDLEA Secures Court-Ordered Forfeiture of N33.6bn Opioids Seized at Onne Port

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough in its crackdown on drug trafficking, following a Federal High Court order granting interim forfeiture of 17 containers of illicit opioids valued at over N33.6 billion, intercepted at Onne Port in Rivers State.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured an interim forfeiture order on 17 containers laden with illicit drugs worth over N33.6 billion, marking a significant escalation in its sustained offensive against drug cartels operating in Nigeria.

The order was granted by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, after an ex parte motion filed by the agency on February 10, 2026, in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026.

The seized containers were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, on multiple dates between April and September 2025. The consignments contained 19.6 million pills of controlled substances including Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol, alongside 2,496,400 bottles of Codeine syrup.

In total, the confiscated drugs weigh 365,657 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N33,691,200,000.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Mohammed ordered the interim forfeiture of the containers and their contents to the Federal Government of Nigeria, describing the substances as illegally imported by unidentified individuals. The court also vested custody and possession of the exhibits in the NDLEA pending the final determination of the case.

Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the forfeiture as a decisive blow to drug trafficking networks.

“This is not just a seizure; it is a total dispossession of resources intended to fuel criminality and destroy lives. By stripping these syndicates of assets worth over N33.6 billion, we have struck at the very heart of their operations,” Marwa stated.

He added that the action sends a strong signal that Nigeria will not tolerate the circulation of proceeds from illicit drug trade, often linked to broader security threats including terrorism.

Marwa commended the judiciary for its prompt intervention and reiterated the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling drug-related crimes. He also praised NDLEA operatives at the Onne Port Command for their vigilance and professionalism in uncovering the concealed consignments.

The NDLEA boss further acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Customs Service and other port stakeholders, as well as international partners whose intelligence-sharing efforts continue to strengthen the agency’s operations.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and curbing substance abuse across the country.