Dare Babalola
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has approved the temporary forfeiture of 17 shipping containers packed with banned pharmaceutical substances, in a case described as a significant disruption to drug trafficking operations within Nigeria’s port system.
The development was announced on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed that the order followed an ex parte motion filed by the agency before the court.
According to the agency, the containers were intercepted at the Onne Port Complex between April and September 2025. Investigations revealed that the consignments contained large quantities of controlled substances, including Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol, Carisoprodol, and more than 2.4 million bottles of Codeine syrup.
Presiding over the matter, Adamu Mohammed granted the interim forfeiture, ruling that the seized items—estimated at 365,675 kilograms of psychotropic drugs—be temporarily handed over to the Federal Government pending the final determination of the case.
The court further directed that custody of the containers remain with the anti-narcotics agency until legal proceedings are concluded.
Reacting to the ruling, Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the outcome as a major step in dismantling criminal drug networks and cutting off their financial backbone.
“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 that removing assets valued at over N33.6 billion sends a strong signal about the government’s resolve to prevent illicit drug proceeds from fueling broader crimes, including terrorism.
Marwa also commended the judiciary for its prompt intervention, noting that legal backing remains crucial in sustaining enforcement efforts.
He further praised operatives at the Onne Port Command and acknowledged collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and international partners whose intelligence contributed to the operation.
The agency reiterated its commitment to intensifying actions against drug trafficking syndicates and ensuring that illicit substances do not circulate within the country.
