Customs strike once more! N1.1 billion price of lethal medicine seized at Apapa Port

In its ongoing efforts to forestall the smuggling of harmful medicine into Nigeria, the Apapa Ports Customs Command has seized illicit medicine price N1.1 billion, hid in 4 40ft containers.

The Customs Space Comptroller, Babatunde Olomu, made this recognized in an announcement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Usman Abubakar, on Wednesday in Lagos.

Olomu revealed that the seized gadgets included 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine and Barcadin cough syrup, packed in 2,174 cartons.

Three of the seizures have been made at APM Terminals, whereas the fourth was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.

Describing the operation as a part of the Customs Service’s zero-tolerance coverage in direction of smuggling, Olomu supplied particulars of the confiscations: “On October 11, 2024, throughout a joint examination of a 40ft container with quantity MRKU0377493, our officers found 34,800 bottles of prohibited CSP cough syrup. These expired bottles, packed in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton, have been smuggled into the nation.”

He added that one other examination on the identical day on the similar terminal uncovered a 40ft container (TGBU8886020) carrying 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in 100 bottles per carton.

Additional inspections carried out on October 15, 2024, led to the invention of a 40ft container (TCKU6800526), which had been declared as important items.

Upon examination, it was discovered to be concealing 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup, containing codeine in 100ml bottles.

At Kachicares Sources Terminal, one other 40ft container (SUDU8579006), falsely declared as containing kitchen wares, was discovered to carry 1,584 cartons of Barcadin cough syrup.

As well as, 83 unfastened bottles have been additionally discovered hid inside the container.

Reaffirming the command’s dedication to seamless commerce facilitation and strong stakeholder engagement, Olomu emphasised that the Apapa Command would preserve its strict enforcement of income assortment and anti-smuggling operations.

He warned these engaged in illegal commerce to steer clear of Apapa Port, stating that the officers, geared up with intelligence, know-how, and years of expertise, would proceed to show all smuggling makes an attempt.

Highlighting the risks of codeine abuse, Olomu famous that the substance had been linked to nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, impaired cognitive operate, and irrational habits, together with legal tendencies.

He additionally reminded the general public that the Federal Authorities had banned the importation of codeine-based cough syrup in 2018 as a consequence of its widespread abuse and detrimental results on younger Nigerians.

The comptroller disclosed that additional investigations into the seizures have been ongoing, with the aim of figuring out and apprehending these accountable for the unlawful importation of the banned substances.