Thursday October 16, 2025
Police spokesperson Abdifatah Adan Hassan (right) displays confiscated pharmaceutical tablets as Mogadishu Port Director Mohamed Ali Nur ‘Ameriko’ (left) looks on during a press briefing at Mogadishu’s main seaport on Thursday. Somali authorities showcased the seized shipment, which police said contained narcotics disguised as medical supplies intended for sale in local markets. Courtesy - Somali Police
Police spokesperson Abdifatah Adan Hassan told reporters during a press briefing at the port that the seizure followed an intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected shipment of banned drugs concealed as medical supplies. The container, he said, contained large quantities of pharmaceutical tablets that were being misused as narcotics and had been hidden in boxes labelled as paracetamol to evade inspection.
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“These substances were intended for sale in Mogadishu and other parts of the country,” Hassan said. “They were disguised among legitimate medicines to bypass customs and security checks, but our officers, working closely with port management, discovered the contents before they could reach the streets.”The operation follows a series of high-profile interdictions at Mogadishu’s key entry points. In late August, police seized two containers of narcotics at the same port, including Tramadol, codeine syrup, and the locally known “Bilig bilig” pills.
Authorities have since moved to destroy confiscated substances. On September 2, 2025, police publicly burned 250 cartons of seized drugs in Mogadishu under a Banadir Regional Court order, in what officials described as a “zero-tolerance” stance against narcotic smuggling and distribution.
Somalia’s government formally announced a crackdown on the importation of narcotic drugs in July 2024, a policy announced by Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Bulaale, who warned that traders caught importing opioids would face severe penalties. The directive followed mounting concern over the misuse of powerful painkillers such as Tramadol and pethidine, which have contributed to rising addiction rates among Somali youth.
Hassan said the latest seizure reflects tighter enforcement of that national ban. “These operations demonstrate our commitment to protect public health and prevent the spread of addiction that threatens our young generation.”
The growing crackdown comes on the heels of widespread reports of drug abuse in both urban and rural areas. Reports from central Somalia’s Galgadud region detailed how misuse of Tramadol has fueled violent crime and social breakdown among pastoral communities. Community leaders there have called for stronger enforcement at ports, airports, and border crossings to disrupt the flow of cheap narcotics from foreign suppliers.
Police confirmed that several suspects connected to the latest shipment have been arrested, while investigations continue to trace others believed to have exchanged shipping documents between two ports. “Some of the suspects are in custody, and we are tracking down additional accomplices,” Hassan said.
Authorities said the confiscated container remains in police custody pending court proceedings.