The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured another significant victory in its ongoing offensive against drug cartels.

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an interim forfeiture order for 17 containers loaded with illicit opioids worth over N33.6 billion in street value.

The containers were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, on various dates in 2025.
They contain 19,600,000 pills of Tramadol, Tafrodol, Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, along with 2,496,400 bottles of Codeine syrup.

The combined street value of the seizures is estimated at N33,691,200,000.

The forfeiture order was issued by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, following a motion ex parte filed by the NDLEA on February 10, 2026, in suit number FHC/PH/MISC/25/2026.

Justice Adamu ordered the interim forfeiture of the containers and their contents to the Federal Government of Nigeria until the final determination of the case.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), hailed the forfeiture as a significant blow to the financial resources of the criminal syndicates involved.

He said: “This is not just a seizure; it is a total dispossession of the resources the drug cartels intended to use in destroying the lives of our youths and funding further criminality.

“By stripping the criminal syndicates of assets worth over N33.6 billion, we have struck at the heart of their operations. This sends a clear message: the Nigerian state will not allow the proceeds of death to circulate to fund terrorism and other forms of criminality in our country.”

Marwa commended the judiciary for its support and timely intervention, highlighting the importance of the partnership between the judiciary and the agency in combating substance abuse and drug trafficking.

He praised the vigilance and professionalism of NDLEA officers, particularly those at the Onne Port Command, for uncovering the concealed drugs.

The NDLEA chairman also acknowledged the collaboration of sister security agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other port stakeholders in the successful interdiction process.

He thanked international partners for their intelligence sharing and technical support, which contributed to the agency’s success, adding that the agency remains resolute in its mission to dismantle drug networks across the country.