The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted over 100,000 bottles of codeine syrup, weighing 15,325kg, at the Onne Seaport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The drugs were packed in 500 cartons and concealed in a container marked MRKU 1565305, bearing imported masks made in India. It was discovered on Thursday, 10th June 2021 in a warehouse at the Onne Port complex during a joint examination with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, State Security Service, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, among others.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. The statement reads, “The seizure followed an intelligence received by NDLEA, as a result of which the container was put on hold and moved to the Customs Government warehouse within the port complex. No importer or agent has however come forward in respect of the container but efforts are ongoing to track the owner for further investigation and prosecution.
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“In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NAIA, have seized nine cartons of khat, weighing 146.95kilograms at the cargo wing of the airport. The consignment packaged as dried green tea was shipped from Addis Ababa, on board Ethiopian airline flight ET911.
“Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has hailed the synergy among various government agencies at the Onne port and charged them not to rest on their oars as they daily work hard to keep Nigeria safe. He particularly commended the Commander, officers and men of the Port Harcourt Port Command and their Abuja airport Command counterparts for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding Nigeria of illicit drugs.