Apapa Customs Record Seizure of N1.1bn Illicit Drugs

…As Olomu Bags NDLEA Award

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Port Command said it frustrated attempts by unscrupulous and criminal elements  to smuggle illicit drugs worth one billion, one hundred and eighty three million, nine hundred and fifteen thousand, five hundred naira (N1,183,915,500 0 into the country in 4 units of 40ft containers.

The Command Public Relations Officer, CSC Usman Abubakar in a release made available to our reporter quoted the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu Ph.D as describing the development as a fallout of the service zero tolerance for smuggling. This is even as Olomu recently bagged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Award for his uncompromising stance against drugs trafficking.

On the offensive against the drug smuggling, Abubakar listed controlled medications which importation rules were violated, while also naming the terminals involved in the criminal distribution of the illicit substances to include APMT and Kachicares Bonded Terminal.

The statement reads: “Breakdown of the seizures shows they were 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and barkadin 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.”

Throwing light on the customs offensives Olomu said, “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. 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 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 continued: “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.

“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.”

Codeine abuse has been found to cause nausea or vomiting, making addicts feel sleepy, unable to concentrate or think clearly, and behave irrationally, including exhibition of criminal tendencies. It is instructive that the federal government banned the importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018 following its widespread abuse and its adverse effects on many youth who got addicted to it.

It should be emphasized that these banned substances have been found to spur criminal activities and deviant behaviors capable of setting society backward. The statement hints that the Area Controller has directed further investigation into the seizures to unravel further details that could lead to the arrest of those involved.

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) had conferred on Olomu the NDLEA Awards in recognition of his exceptional leadership role in the combat against drug trafficking.

Marwa presented the award to Olomu and his colleague CACs, namely Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni (Tin Can Island Command), Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye (Western Marine Command), and Comptroller Olanrewaju Olumoh during the launching of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.