By Ayomide Otitoju
Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted two containers carrying a total of 3,398 cartons of Codeine-containing syrup, concealed in household utensils, at Apapa Port.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, disclosed that the seizures have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3.398 billion. Container MRKU 3816476 contained 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of CSP Codeine hidden with 38 cartons of pearl-plated insulated casseroles, while container TGBU 5399178 held 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of the syrup concealed with 36 similar casseroles.
Both containers have been officially converted to seizure under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, as amended, Sulaiman added.
Apapa Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the seizure as a demonstration of the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement and the directives of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC). “This fresh interception, coming just five days after the CGC’s visit and warning to criminal elements, reinforces our resolve to make Apapa Port hostile to smugglers and drug traffickers,” he said.
Oshoba also commended the NDLEA for its seamless collaboration in the operation, emphasizing that the Command remains dedicated to protecting public health, safeguarding national security, and facilitating legitimate trade, in line with the CGC’s emphasis on technology-driven operations and zero tolerance for smuggling.
