FCT Customs Hands Over Seized Tramadol Valued at N8.6bn to NDLEA

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, on Monday handed over seized tramadol valued at ₦8,654,800,000, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the airport’s Cargo Terminal, revealing that the seizure has dealt a significant blow to drug traffickers in the area and highlighted the strong institutional synergy between NCS and NDLEA, championed by Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

Addressing journalists, Comptroller Adebisi condemned the actions of individuals who have continued to traffic illicit substances into the country under the guise of trade and also revealed that the latest seizure was made on Saturday, 5 April 2025.

“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.

“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,” he stated.

Comptroller Adebisi disclosed that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted tramadol stood at ₦8,654,800,000, emphasising that the Service, under his leadership, would continue to clamp down on smugglers operating within and beyond the FCT.

He also commended the unwavering support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, under whose administration, the FCT Command has received critical institutional support and operational leverage to intensify its enforcement efforts.

“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),” Comptroller Adebisi noted.

The illicit cargo was officially handed over to the NDLEA Commandant of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, CN Muhammad Jidda, in the presence of representatives from other sister security agencies.

Receiving the items, Commandant Muhammad Jidda commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and sustained collaboration with drug control agencies.“What we’re witnessing today is a model example of inter-agency cooperation.

“We sincerely commend the Nigeria Customs Service for their alertness and their 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,” he said.

Commandant Jidda also assured that the NDLEA would proceed with a thorough investigation to trace the consignment’s origin and intended destination while reaffirming the agency’s readiness to prosecute culprits in accordance with the law.

This latest operation adds to the growing list of collaborative seizures between the NCS and NDLEA, as Nigeria intensifies its war against drug trafficking and its dangerous ties to national insecurity.

Also, the collaboration between the two agencies demonstrates their commitment to combating drug trafficking and preventing the proliferation of illicit substances in the country.