By Godwin Oritse

Barely five days after the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, visited Apapa Port and declared that the facility would no longer serve as a haven for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation, officers of the Apapa Area 1 Command have recorded a major seizure.

In a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the command intercepted and seized two containers laden with 3,398 cartons, equivalent to 339,800 bottles, of codeine-containing syrup (CSP Codeine). The illicit consignment, valued at about ₦3.39 billion, was carefully concealed inside shipments of household utensils at Apapa Port.

In a statement by Isah Sulaiman a Chief Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer of the Command, details of the seizures include a Container with No. MRKU 3816476 found to contain 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 38 cartons of pearl plating insulated casserole/5′ Bullet Insulated Hotspot and Container No. TGBU 5399178 was found to contain 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 36 cartons of pearl plating casserole. Both containers have been converted to seizure in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as amended.

Speaking on the latest interception, the Customs Area Controller Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba said the seizure serves as a clear demonstration of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the directives and vision of the CGC. “This fresh seizure, coming just Five (5) days after the CGC’s visit and strong warning to criminal elements, is a direct response to his charge on us. We are fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port extremely hostile to smugglers and drug traffickers,” he stated.
He commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its seamless collaboration and unwavering support in the successful operation.

Comptroller Oshoba maintained that the Apapa Area Command remains steadfast in its resolve to protect public health, safeguard national security and facilitate only legitimate trade, in line with the CGC’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven operations and zero tolerance for smuggling activities.