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The Inspector General of Police says officers have seized about six million strips of Tramadol and arrested several suspected drug dealers in what authorities describe as one of South Sudan’s largest anti-narcotics operations.

Inspector General of Police General Saeed Chawul Lom Ayuel said the operation was carried out last week in the border town of Nimule by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and the illegal distribution of narcotics.

He said the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, adding that those arrested are being interrogated and have allegedly begun identifying accomplices operating both inside and outside South Sudan.

Speaking to Eye Radio in an exclusive interview, General Chawul said the operation represents a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking networks.

“Last week, the Criminal Investigation Department in Nimule arrested several drug dealers in the border city of Nimule.

“They were found in possession of approximately six million strips of Tramadol, a narcotic drug. We are currently interrogating the arrested dealers, who have revealed their accomplices both inside and outside the country,” General Chawul said .

The latest seizure comes amid a series of anti-drug operations conducted by South Sudanese authorities in recent years.

In July 2025, security forces in Melut County, Upper Nile State, arrested several suspects found in possession of Tramadol and other suspected narcotic drugs during an operation targeting illegal drug distribution networks. Investigations were launched to determine the source of the drugs and possible links to wider trafficking syndicates.

Earlier, in January 2024, police in Juba arrested 15 suspects during operations in Mangala and the Juba Two area, recovering a large quantity of opium and several machetes. Authorities said the suspects would be taken to court after investigations were completed.

The South Sudan Police Service says it will continue working with other security agencies to dismantle drug trafficking networks and bring those involved to justice.