In a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has intercepted a massive consignment of tramadol valued at more than ₦8.6 billion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The illicit drugs were uncovered on Saturday, 5 April 2025, and formally presented to the public during a press briefing held on Monday, 7 April, at the airport’s Cargo Terminal.
Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, the Customs Area Controller for the FCT Command, led the inspection and detailed the operation’s success.
Speaking to journalists, Adebisi decried the continued attempts by criminal networks to flood Nigerian communities with harmful substances.
“It is deeply troubling that some unpatriotic elements are determined to flood our communities with dangerous drugs simply for profit, even if it costs lives,” he said. “These types of drugs often end up in the hands of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, Boko Haram fighters, and other criminal elements threatening the peace of our nation.”
Adebisi revealed that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized tramadol was N8.6 billion, stressing the Command’s commitment to intensifying its crackdown on smugglers operating in and beyond the FCT.
He attributed the success to the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, under whose leadership the Command has enjoyed enhanced operational capacity.
“In line with the strong institutional synergy championed by the Comptroller-General, we have secured approval to transfer the seized items to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),” Adebisi confirmed.
The handover took place in the presence of officials from other sister security agencies, marking another milestone in inter-agency collaboration.
Receiving the consignment, CN Muhammad Jidda, NDLEA Commandant at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, praised the Customs Service for its vigilance.
“What we’re witnessing today is a model example of inter-agency cooperation,” Jidda said. “We sincerely commend the Nigeria Customs Service for their alertness and refusal to allow Nigeria to become a dumping ground for psychotropic substances. The tramadol you see here would have caused incalculable harm to communities had it found its way to the streets.”
Jidda also affirmed that the NDLEA would launch a full-scale investigation to trace the shipment’s origins and intended recipients, while pledging swift prosecution of those involved.