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By Steve Agbota
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Port Command, has foiled 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, it was shown that there were 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and Barcadin 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, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, described it as a fallout of the service’s zero tolerance for smuggling.
Comptroller Olomu said, “On the 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, containing 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 chest, with codeine 100ml, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
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“At Kachicares Resources Terminal, 1x40ft container NO SUDU8579006, said to contain kitchen wares, was examined on October 15, 2024, and found to contain a concealment of Barcadin cough syrup for throat and chest 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 stakeholder engagement but will not compromise on our revenue collection or 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-eyed 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 exhibiting 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 youths who became addicted to it, saying these banned substances have been found to spur criminal activities and deviant behaviours capable of setting society back.
The Area Controller has directed a further investigation into the seizures to unravel more details that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved.
