Customs Deal Critical Blow on Drug Syndicate in Edo, Seizes N1.056bn Narcotics

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri, has delivered a major blow to drug trafficking networks in Edo State with the interception of a massive consignment of tramadol tablets and codeine syrup valued at over N1.056 billion along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin City .

The Customs Area Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Bashir Balogun, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the seizure was executed on March 15, 2026, following actionable intelligence and a coordinated enforcement operation . According to Balogun, operatives flagged down a truck suspected of conveying contraband goods along the busy expressway.

“When flagged down, the driver attempted to evade officers but eventually parked, jumped out, and fled into nearby bushland,” Balogun said . He explained that a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed the drugs had been cleverly concealed among legitimate goods in an attempt to evade detection .

The seized consignment comprised over 1,025,000 tablets of Tramadol and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup, each containing 100ml, with a total Duty Paid Value of N1,056,000,000 . Balogun stressed that the operation underscores the Service’s unwavering commitment to curbing the smuggling of prohibited substances, particularly Tramadol and Codeine, which are widely linked to substance abuse and rising criminal activity across the country .

“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,” Balogun stated . He issued a stern warning to smugglers and criminal networks, urging them to abandon their illegal activities, stressing that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies to safeguard public health and national security .

Balogun added that the seized consignment remains in Customs custody, while investigations are intensifying to track down and apprehend those responsible for the illegal shipment . The interception has been described as one of the single largest drug hauls along the Benin axis in recent months, reflecting the Service’s intensified crackdown on the trafficking of controlled substances nationwide .