The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, has busted an attempt at smuggling into the country illicit drugs worth a total of ₦1,183,915,500 loaded in four units of 40ft containers.
A breakdown of the seizures revealed that they were 236,783 bottles of cough syrup, containing Codeine and Barkadin cough syrup packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the Command.
As stated in a release by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Apapa Area Command, Apapa, CSC Usman Abubakar, three of the seizures were made at APM Terminals and the fourth one was made at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, said it was a fallout of the service zero tolerance for smuggling.
“On 11th of October 2024, our officers, during a joint examination of 1×40 container number MRKU0377493, found prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles.
“The offensive importation was also found to have expired. The smugglers packed them in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton.
“On the same day, during another examination in the same terminal, a 1×40 container TGBU8886020 was found to be laden with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup packed in 100 bottles per carton.
“Another 1x40ft container NO TCKU6800526 dropped at APMT Container Terminal, said to contain essential goods, was examined on 15 October 2024.
“After examination, it was found to contain a concealment of 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup for throat and chesty with codeine 100ml packed in 200 bottles per carton.
“At Kachicares Resources Terminal, 1X40FT container NO SUDU8579006, said to contain kitchen wares, was examined on October 15, 2024 and found to contain concealment of Barcadin cough syrup for throat and chesty cough in 100ml.
“They were packed in 1,584 cartons. Another set of 83 loose bottles was also found in the container,” Comptroller Olomu stated in the release.
He added: “Like I have always said, Apapa Command is committed to seamless trade facilitation powered by robust stakeholders engagement but will not compromise on our revenue collection, anti-smuggling mandates as we facilitate trade.
“For the umpteenth time, I want to warn perpetrators of unlawful trade to steer clear from Apapa Port as our eagle-eye officers, relying on intelligence, technology and on-the-job experience, are out to uncover all their smuggling antics.”
Codeine abuse has been found to cause nausea or vomiting, making addicts feel sleepy, unable to concentrate or think clearly and behave irrationally, including exhibition of criminal tendencies.
The Federal Government banned the importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018 following its abuse and the adverse effects it caused on many youth who got addicted to it.
These banned substances have been found to encourage criminal activities and deviant behaviours capable of setting the society backward.
The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Port Command, has directed further investigation into the seizures to unravel further details that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved.
