NDLEA Intercepts Codeine Shipment From India

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have again intercepted a consignment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup imported from India.

This is coming barely a week after seizing a shipment of the same number of codeine-based syrup bottles at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers State.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday, that the two seizures followed earlier intelligence, which made the agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 per cent examination.

“The latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine containing 175,000 bottles and weighing 26,250kg, was made on Friday June 7, 2024 during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service and other security agencies.

“The container marked HASU 4787890 from India was enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu,” Babafemi explained.

In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on June 5, intercepted five different parcels containing illicit drugs concealed in ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair going to the United States and United Kingdom.

Some of the seized drugs include 620 ampoules of pentazocine injection, promethazine and other opioids.

The drug consignments were seized at a courier firm in Lagos.

In Kebbi State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kalgo-Birnin Kebbi Road on Saturday June 8, arrested a 32-year-old Nigerien, Hassan Mummuni with 4,000 pills of diazepam and 1.250kg cannabis, concealed in four pesticide tanks, while operatives in Gombe state same day arrested Ibrahim Abubakar (aka Alhajiji) at Herwagana, with 6,740 pills of tramadol and 20,000 tablets of diazepam.

In Bauchi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Ningi-Kano Road on Wednesday, June 5, arrested a 20-year-old lady, Hasana Usman, with 25 blocks of cannabis sativa that weighed 28.2kg.

On their part, the anti-narcotics officers in Yobe State nabbed a 42-year-old Ali Mohammed along Kano-Potiskum Road with 19,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in a black sack and the suspect’s travelling bag.