The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) executed a major operation on July 18, 2025, seizing illicit drugs and goods worth ₦20.5 billion hidden in 16 containers at the Onne Port Complex, marking a significant blow to smuggling networks.
The haul, uncovered by the NCS Special Strike Force under Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, included 15 tons of tramadol, codeine syrup, and counterfeit electronics concealed within shipments labeled as household goods, with the value assessed at black-market rates due to the drugs’ street potency. The operation, triggered by a tip from international partners and months of surveillance, represents the largest single seizure in the region this year.
Two suspects, including a clearing agent, were arrested and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution under the NDLEA Act, which carries penalties up to life imprisonment. The containers, traced to origins in India and Dubai, were flagged due to suspicious documentation during a routine scan on July 15. Local traders expressed concern over potential job losses from disrupted supply chains, while the NCS highlighted a 30% rise in drug-related crimes in Rivers in 2025, linking it to porous borders.
The seizure aligns with President Tinubu’s anti-smuggling agenda, with plans for a public destruction ceremony, though experts question the long-term impact without addressing corruption and border security gaps, with over 1,200 smuggling cases reported nationally this year.