FOU intercepts truck load of Codeine Recovers N67bn June 13-July 24

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja has apprehended a truck load of Codeine Cough Syrup 100ml, each containing 200 bottles.
The seizure which is in line with the Federal Government present ban on the importation of restricted pharnaceuticals including cough syrups containing codeine marked the first major offensive by the service in third quarter of the year 2018.
This is even as the flagship FOU under the watch of Comptroller Mohammed Garba has realised the total sum of One Billion, One Hundred Twenty Million, Seven Hundred and Forteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Eight Naira, Twelve Kobo (N1,120,714,338,12) in Duty Paid Value from various seized contraband items during the period under review.
The Unit Controller, Compt. Mohammed Garba who briefed the press this morning said the seized items include 21 posh vehicles, 9,503 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 436 jerrycans of vegetable oil. The others include 333 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, 287 bales of second clothing, 198 pieces of second hand tyres, among others.
Garba who put the value of the seized offensive Codeine at One Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N199,200,000.00), said the consignment will be handed over to NAFDAC for further investigation and possible prosecution, adding that two suspects were arrested in connection to the drug.
Garba explained that a total of Sixty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Naira, Five Kobo (N67,375,670. 5) was also recovered during the period under review from a total of 143 seizured.The Unit Controller explained that ten suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizures, stating that some of the suspects has however been granted administrative bail.
Similarly, Garba explained that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) has ordered the evacuation of 11,579x50kg bags of the seized rice, 627 and 485 jerrycans of vegetable oil (25litres and 5litres respectively to the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NSCST) for onward delivery to Internally Displaced Persons in Borno State, in line with subsisting Presidential directive. Other items evacuated include 248 bales and 219 sacks of second hand clothing, and 33 sacks of second hand shoes.