The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, intercepted and seized two containers containing a total of 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of codeine-containing syrup carefully concealed in household utensils at the Apapa Port.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Isah Sulaiman, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, announced this in a statement on Monday obtained by The PUNCH. Sulaiman explained that the seizures have a cumulative, duty-paid value of N3.398bn and were intercepted on Sunday.
He stressed that the seizure comes barely five days after the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, visited Apapa Port and declared that the port is no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation.
“In a swift follow-up operation on Sunday, 15 March 2026, the command, in collaboration with the NDLEA, intercepted and seized two containers containing a total of 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of codeine-containing syrup carefully concealed in household utensils at the Apapa Port. Cumulatively, the seizures have a duty-paid value of N3.398bn,” Sulaiman said.
Giving details of the seizure, he mentioned that a container with registration number MRKU 3816476 was found to contain 1,700 cartons of CSP Codeine concealed with 38 cartons of pearl plating insulated casserole/5’ bullet insulated hotspot.
“And a container with the number TGBU 5399178 was found to contain 1,698 cartons of CSP Codeine concealed with 36 cartons of pearl plating casserole. Both containers have been converted to seizure in accordance with the NCS Act 2023 as amended,” he stated.
Also speaking on the seizure, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, 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 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 NDLEA for its seamless collaboration and unwavering support in the successful operation.
Oshoba maintained that the 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.”
