Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, has successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle illicit drugs worth N1,183,915,500 into the country.
The discovery, made across four 40ft containers, included 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and Barcadin syrup packed in a total of 2,174 cartons. These substances, banned in Nigeria due to their addictive properties, were found at two terminals under the command.
“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,” the statement read.
Three of the containers were seized at the APM Terminals, and one was confiscated at Kachicares Bonded Terminal. Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, attributed the success of the operation to the service’s zero tolerance for smuggling.
Providing details, Comptroller Olomu explained that the first seizure occurred on October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of container MRKU0377493, which was found to contain 34,800 bottles of expired CSP cough syrup, packed in 174 cartons. On the same day, another container, TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup.
Two additional seizures followed on October 15, 2024. A container labeled as essential goods, TCKU6800526, was found with 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup containing codeine, while at Kachicares Resources Terminal, container SUDU8579006, declared to contain kitchen wares, concealed 1,584 cartons of Barcadin cough syrup along with 83 loose bottles.
“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.
Comptroller Olomu emphasized that while the command is committed to facilitating legitimate trade, it will not tolerate any form of smuggling.
” 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,” he stated .
Codeine cough syrup, banned in Nigeria since 2018 due to its rampant abuse and devastating effects on youth, has been linked to criminal behavior and social deviance. The Customs Command has initiated further investigations to identify and apprehend those involved in the smuggling attempt.