Major Blow to Drug Cartels: ₦33bln Narcotics Shipment Uncovered at Onne Port

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

In a significant legal victory for Nigeria’s war on narcotics, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the interim forfeiture of 17 shipping containers filled with illicit drugs valued at ₦33.6 billion.

The ruling follows a series of successful interceptions by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, between April and September 2025.

The forfeited consignments represent one of the largest seizures in the region, comprising a massive volume of controlled substances intended for the Nigerian black market.

The inventory includes 19.6 million tablets of prohibited opioids, including Tramadol, Tafrodol, and Tapentadol and 2.4 million bottles of codeine based syrups, a statement said.

The court granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by the NDLEA, ruling that the containers and their contents be forfeited to the Federal Government pending the final determination of the case.

NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa hailed the court’s decision as a strategic win that hits drug cartels where it hurts most.

“This is a direct strike at the financial base of drug cartels,” Marwa said.

“By cutting off these resources, we are effectively neutralizing their ability to fund further criminal activities and reinforcing our commitment to dismantling these networks.”

The chairman attributed the successful operation to the high level of vigilance maintained by the Onne Port Command and the seamless cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service.

The massive drug haul, linked to unidentified importers, was smuggled through the Onne seaport using various sophisticated disguises.

Following the successful acquisition of an interim forfeiture order, the NDLEA has confirmed that investigations are ongoing to unmask and prosecute the individuals behind the shipment.

To dismantle the criminal syndicate responsible, the agency is currently collaborating with both local and international partners to track the network’s operations.