The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, on Wednesday announced a milestone in the interception of a 40-foot container of illicit drugs valued at N1.18 billion into the country.
The interception was announced in a statement on Wednesday by Usman Abubakar, the command’s Public Relations Officer.
He noted that the the sized items includes 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and Barcadin Cough Syrup, the items according to the statement were packed in 2,174 cartons, from two terminals within the command.
The PRO noted that the command stopped an attempt to smuggle some illicit drugs, which he said were worth about N1.18 be, brought into the country in four 40ft containers.
Commenting on the seizure the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Babatunde Olomu, noted that the sezure was out of the commands zero tolerance for any act of smuggling by the officers.
The command further stated that the officers of the command on 11th of October 2024, our officers, during a joint examination of a 40ft container with registration number MRKU0377493, had discovered some items that have been known to be prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles. The statement further noted the items were discovered to have expired before importation. It was further disclosed that the items were kept in 174 cartons, with 200 bottles per carton.
The command also noted that the command, on the day of the initial seizure at the terminal, examination, discovered a a 40ft container with registration number TGBU8886020. It was noted that the container contained 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup. The items, according to the command, were packed in 100 bottles per carton.
The statement noted that at Kachicares Resources Terminal, another container of 40ft with registration number SUDU8579006, which was said to contain some kitchen items, was investigated on Tuesday and was discovered to be counting some Barcadin cough syrup for throat and chest, with 100ml bottles.
The customs in Apapa noted that the drugs were packed in 1,584 cartons, along with an additional 83 loose bottles found in the container.
The command expressed commitment to seamless trade in the country, which has been encouraged by different stakeholders who have engaged in the conversation. This will help in the country’s revenue generation and curb every act of smuggling through the ports, which will improve the state of the economy.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command further noted that all individuals who are currently in every act of unlawful trade in the country should stay away from Apapa Port. He noted that the officers of the command will continue to use intelligence and technology, and other experiences to uncover all acts of smuggling in the country.
He noted that several reports have shown that codeine abuse has been found to cause nausea or vomiting, make addicts feel drowsy, impair concentration or clear thinking, and lead to irrational behaviour, including criminal tendencies.
The command disclosed that further investigation has been ordered to obtain further information, which will help in the arrest of the persons involved in illegal activities.
In the past months, an announcement by the government banned the importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018. The ban was facilitated after widespread abuse and the detrimental effects it had on many youths who became addicted to it.
It was also disclosed the banned substances had in the past facilitated some criminal activities, which have caused some bad behaviours and limited the progress of youths in society.
