Apapa Customs intercepts illicit drugs worth N1.1bn

In its continued efforts to discourage the entry of dangerous drugs into Nigeria, the Apapa Ports Customs Command has seized illicit drugs worth N1.1 billion conveyed in four units of 40ft containers.

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu said this in a statement through the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Usman Abubakar, in Lagos on Wednesday.

Olomu said the seizures included 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and barkadin cough syrup packed in 2,174 cartons, adding that three of the seizures were made in APM Terminals while one at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.

He described the seizure as a fallout of the service’s zero tolerance for smuggling.

“On 11th 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, and after examination it was found to contain a concealment of 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup for throat and chesty cough 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,” Olomu said.

He restated his stand, saying that Apapa Command was committed to seamless trade facilitation powered by robust stakeholders engagement.

Olomu emphasised that the command would not compromise on revenue collection, anti smuggling mandates as well as trade facilitation.

He warned perpetrators of unlawful trade to steer clear from Apapa Port as their eagle eye officers, relying on intelligence, technology and on the job experience, were out to uncover all their smuggling antics.

Olomu said codeine abuse had 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.

He said the Federal Government banned the importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018, following its abuse and the adverse effects it caused on many youths who got addicted to it.

The Comptroller said that the banned substances had been found to spur criminal activities and deviant behaviors capable of setting society backward.

Olomu said he had directed further investigation into the seizures, to unravel further details that could lead to the arrest of the suspect involved in the illegal importation.