By Ólòpá Úlègbé
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Port Command has busted an attempt at smuggling illicit drugs worth a total of N1.183 billion into the country in four units of 40ft containers.
While giving the breakdown of the seizures in a statement issued by the Command Public Relations Officer, CSC Usman Abubakar, shows 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. Three of the seizures were made in APM Terminals and one was made at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
However, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptrollerq Babatunde Olomu, described it as a fallout of the service zero tolerance for smuggling.
Comptroller Olomu said, “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.”
According to him, another 1x40ft container NO TCKU6800526 dropped at APMT Container Terminal, contain essential goods was examined on October 15, 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.
“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.
“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,” the Controller said.
He said 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.
He noted that 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, saying these banned substances have been found to spur criminal activities and deviant behaviors capable of setting society backward.
The Area Controller has directed further investigation into the seizures to unravel further details that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved.
