Tin Can Customs intercepts container load of Codeine

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Management of the Nigeria customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Command has announced the seizure of a 1×40 ft container load of pharmaceutical substance suspected to be hard drugs.

A statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, Uche Ejesieme , said the seizure which was done in conjunction with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was based on shared intelligence.

The customs command spokesman informed that acting on the intelligence provided by NDLEA, the customs command leadership directed that the container with registration number MSCU 1751320 be taking to the enforcement unit for 100 percent examination, where it was discovered that it was laden with 1,506 cartons of BARCADINE CODEINE, including other questionable drugs.

The statement reads: “The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in conjunction with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, intercepted large quantity of pharmaceutical preparations suspected to be hard drugs in a 1×40 ft container with no MSCU 1751320 during routine examination.

“Relying on the well established collaboration and synergy which is at the base of our standard operating procedure, the national Drug Law Enforcement Agency, acting on intelligence which has been on their radar, notified the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullah Musa of their strong suspicion that the said container was laden with concealed hard drugs.

“Following the development, the Customs Area controller directed that the container be transferred to the Enforcement unit of the command on the 6th of September 2021 where a 100% physical examination was carried out.”

According to Ejesieme, 1,506 cartons of BARCADINE CODEINE(100 bottles per carton of 100ml) each, 189 CARTONS OF 100 PCS PER CARTON OF REALLY EXTRA (PAIN AND FEVER TABLETS), and 47 cartons of 6 packs of 3pcs each, was found in the container.

“Sequel to this the said container was impounded and will be handed over to the National Drug law Enforcement Agency in line with section 169 of the Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 Laws of the Federal Republic 2004 as amended”, adding:

“It is instructive to reiterate that the renewed and strengthened partnership with sister Agencies in the port, has continually yielded expected results and the command will leverage on that to decimate the activities of these criminal gangs and their supply chain.”

The command spokesman noted that young Nigerians have been addicted to CODEINE SYRUP-a medicine he said has acquired street use notoriety, “excessive consumption of which can cause psychosis and organ failure”, he said.