A sizable consignment of illicit drugs worth ₦18 million was successfully stopped by the Nigeria Customs Service from suspected smugglers at the Mfum Border in Cross River State.
It was understood that the NCS’s Akwa Ibom Area Command and the Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone carried out the operation, which led to the seizure of 659 units of restricted pharmaceutical products.
For additional research and potential legal action, the confiscated goods have been turned over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The items that were intercepted included 26 units of sodium injectables, 37 packets of phenobarbital, 33 units of midazolam mylan, 108 units of fentanyl 50mm, 216 units of phenobarbital and 100 mg of morphine sulphate, and 37 units of sodium sterop.
Area Comptroller Gabriel Ogbonna highlighted the operation as an example of the NCS and NDLEA’s successful cooperation and commended his officers for their hard work at the ceremonial handover on Wednesday at the NCS Command Headquarters in Calabar.
“I am giving these items to the NDLEA on behalf of the NCS Comptroller General,” Ogbonna stated.
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“This seizure is not only a success story; it serves as a lesson for our younger officers to understand the importance of inter-agency cooperation.”
He emphasized that the operation indicated the growing cooperation between the two agencies and their shared commitment to national security.
In her speech, Rachael Umebuali, the NDLEA Commander for Cross River State, expressed her gratitude for Customs’ ongoing assistance and emphasized the need of collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking.
“This partnership guarantees that our services to Nigerians continue to be impactful and effective while also improving our operational efficiency,” she said.
Investigations are still on, according to authorities, to find the people behind the smuggling operation.
