Lagos, Oct. 16, 2024 – The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 40-ft container laden with illicit drugs valued at N1.18 billion.
Usman Abubakar, the Public Relations officer of the command, disclosed this in a statement.
He said the container, which was accepted while being smuggled into the country, was loaded with 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and Barcadin Cough Syrup packed in 2,174 cartons.
The statement quoted Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller as saying that: “On the 11th of October 2024, our officers, during a joint examination of a 40ft container with registration number MRKU0377493, discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles.
“The illegal importation was also found to have expired. The smugglers had packed them in 174 cartons, with 200 bottles per carton,”
“During another examination at the same terminal, a 40ft container with registration number TGBU8886020 was found to contain 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup packed with 100 bottles per carton.
“Another 40ft container with registration number TCKU6800526, which had been dropped at APMT Container Terminal and was declared to contain essential goods, was examined on Tuesday.
” After inspection, it was found to conceal 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup for the throat and chest, containing codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton
“At Kachicares Resources Terminal, a 40ft container with registration number SUDU8579006, declared to contain kitchen wares, was examined on Tuesday and found to conceal Barcadin cough syrup for throat and chest, with 100ml bottles,” he said.
Olomu said the drugs were packed in 1,584 cartons, along with an additional 83 loose bottles found in the container.
He warned smugglers to steer clear of Apapa Port. (GBN)
