Customs Smash N1.05bn Tramadol, Codeine Haul in Benin Bust

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives have dealt a heavy blow to illicit drug traffickers, intercepting a truck packed with over 1 million Tramadol tablets and 10,000 bottles of Barcadin Codeine syrup valued at N1.05 billion along the Okada/Ofosu Expressway in Benin City, Edo State.

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, based in Owerri, made the seizure on Friday through sharp intelligence and swift enforcement, Comptroller Bishir Balogun revealed in a statement to journalists. “This is a major breakthrough in our relentless campaign against the smuggling of prohibited substances that are devastating communities,” Balogun said.

When officers flagged down the unmarked truck, the driver sped off in a desperate bid to escape, abandoning the vehicle and fleeing into nearby bushland. A thorough search uncovered the contraband expertly hidden amid legitimate consignments of household goods, designed to slip past routine checks. The haul included precisely 1,025,000 Tramadol 225mg tablets—potent opioids often abused for their euphoric effects—and 10,000 bottles of 100ml Barcadin Codeine syrup, a cough suppressant laced with codeine that’s become a staple in Nigeria’s underground drug market.

The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) clocks in at N1.05 billion, but street estimates from anti-narcotics experts peg its black-market worth even higher, potentially exceeding N2 billion given demand in urban hotspots like Lagos and Port Harcourt. Tramadol, classified as a prescription analgesic, has surged in abuse rates, with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reporting over 1.5 million Nigerian youths hooked in 2025 alone. Codeine syrup, meanwhile, fuels a “lean” culture mimicking global trends, linked to rising road accidents, mental health crises, and violent crime.

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This Benin bust echoes a string of high-profile seizures in recent months. Just last week, NDLEA nabbed 2.4 million Tramadol pills in Lagos ports, while NCS Zone A in Kano intercepted codeine worth N500 million in March. Balogun linked the operations to broader syndicates routing drugs from Asia via West African ports, exploiting lax border controls. “These networks prey on vulnerable populations, turning our streets into battlegrounds for addiction,” he warned, vowing intensified patrols and tech-driven surveillance.

The NCS chief urged smugglers to quit while they can, emphasizing intelligence-led tactics that have netted over N10 billion in contraband this year. The truck, driver, and cargo are under custody at FOU Zone C, with investigations zeroing in on suppliers, buyers, and accomplices. No arrests have been made yet, but Balogun promised swift justice.

Nigeria’s drug war intensifies amid global pressure; the UN Office on Drugs and Crime notes Africa as a growing transit hub for opioids, with local consumption skyrocketing 300% since 2020. Health experts hail such raids as vital to curbing an epidemic claiming thousands of lives annually through overdose and related violence.

As authorities tighten the noose, the message is clear: public health and security trump illicit profits every time.