By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Nigeria Customs Service, Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command, has officially handed over 659 units of illicit pharmaceutical products to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Cross River State.
The handover ceremony which was held on Tuesday, was led by Comptroller Chukwudi Ogbonna, Customs Area Controller, who commended the efforts of his officers in intercepting the controlled substances at the Mfum Border on 29 March 2025.
Among the seized items were 37 units of Phenobarbital Sodium Sterop 100mg, 216 units of Pethidine 100mg solution injection, 108 units of Fentanyl 50mm, 216 units of Morphine Sulphate 10mg/ml, 49 units of Phenobarbital Sodium injection, and 23 units of Midazolam Mylan 5mg/ml.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the confiscated drugs was estimated at over ₦18 million.
Comptroller Ogbonna reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, noting that the seizure and subsequent handover were made possible through a strong partnership with the NDLEA.
He stated that the joint efforts between both agencies underscore the importance of cooperation in combating the illegal drug trade and protecting public health and national security.
The NDLEA Cross River Command expressed gratitude for the continued support from the Customs Service and assured the public that investigations and appropriate action would follow.
