Apapa Customs Command Seizes Illicit Drugs Worth N1.1bn In Containers
Apapa Customs Command Seizes Illicit Drugs Worth N1.1bn In Containers
By Asuquo Nuwak
The Apapa Customs Command of Nigeria Customs Service, has busted an attempt to smuggling illicit drugs worth N1,183,915,500
into the country in 4 units of 40ft containers.
The breakdown of the seizures included 236,783 bottles of cough containing codeine and barkadin cough syrup packed in 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command.
According to a press release made available by the Customs Public Relations Officer of the command, CSC Usman Abubakar shows that three of the seizures were made in APM Terminals and one was made at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, who gave details of the seizures, also described it as a fallout of the service zero tolerance for smuggling.
Comptroller Olomu stated that on 11th of October 2024, when officers during a joint examination of 1×40 container number discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles. Through proper examination, the offensive importation was found to have expired, as the smugglers packed the drugs in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton.
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu also said: “On the same day, during another examination in the same terminal, a 1×40 container TGBU8886020 was found to contain 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup packed in 100 bottles per carton.
Further breakdown of the seizures included another 1x40ft container NO TCKU6800526 dropped at APMT Container Terminal, which was said to contain essential goods, 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 with codeine 100ml packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Similarly, at Kachicares Resources Terminal,1X40ft container NO SUDU8579006 said to contain kitchen wares was examined on October 15, 2024 and was found to contain concealment of barcadin cough syrup for throat and chesty cough in 100ml.
Aside from these drugs parked in 1,584 cartons, Comptroller Olomu stated that another set of 83 loose bottles were also found in the container.
In his remarks, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed that Apapa Command is committed to seamless trade facilitation powered by robust stakeholders engagement, without compromise on revenue collection, anti-smuggling mandates as the command facilitate trade.
The Customs Area Controller, used the opportunity to warn perpetrators of unlawful trade to steer clear from Apapa Port as the command’s eagle eye officers who rely on intelligence, technology and on the job experience are out to uncover all their smuggling antics.
He disclosed that abuse of codeine 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.
According to Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, “the federal government has 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, according to the report, have been found to spur criminal activities and deviant behaviors capable of setting society backward.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has therefore directed further investigation into the seizures in order to unravel further details that could lead to the arrest of the suspects involved.
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