Apapa Customs intercepts N1.1bn illicit drugs

The operatives of the Apapa Ports Customs Command have seized illicit drugs worth N1.1 billion conveyed in four units of 40ft containers into Nigeria.

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu disclosed this in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Usman Abubakar, on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

Olomu said the illicit drugs 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 was made at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.

He described the seizure of the illicit drugs as a fallout of Customs’ zero tolerance for smuggling.

Olomu said: “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.

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“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.”

He stated that the Apapa Customs Command was committed to seamless trade facilitation powered by robust stakeholder engagement, adding that the command would not compromise on revenue collection and anti-smuggling mandates as well as trade facilitation.

Olomu also warned perpetrators of unlawful trade to steer clear from Apapa Port, saying the command’s eagle-eye officers, relying on intelligence, technology, and on-the-job experience, were out to uncover all their smuggling antics.

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.

The Star