The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted four 40-foot containers filled with illicit drugs worth N1.18 billion.

The operation, carried out by customs officers in two terminals, prevented the clandestine entry of 236,783 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine, a substance banned by the federal government.

In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abubakar, disclosed that the seizures included Barcadin cough syrup, all packaged in 2,174 cartons. The contraband drugs were discovered during routine inspections between October 11 and 15, 2024.

The Apapa Regional Customs Comptroller (CAC), Babatunde Olomu, hailed the seizures as a testament to the service’s zero tolerance towards smuggling.

“On October 11, during a joint examination of a container, our officers discovered 34,800 bottles of expired CSP cough syrup, packaged in 174 cartons,” Olomu disclosed.

Further inspections revealed additional containers filled with cough syrups. One 40-foot container contained 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, while another contained 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup, all containing codeine.

At another terminal, customs officers intercepted Barcadin cough syrup, packaged in 1,584 cartons.

Olomu highlighted the command’s commitment to trade facilitation while maintaining strict anti-smuggling measures.

“Smugglers should avoid Apapa port as our officers are equipped with the intelligence, technology and experience to uncover all smuggling attempts,” he warned.

The seized drugs are the subject of further investigation and the customs services are seeking to apprehend the perpetrators of this attempted smuggling.

The importation of codeine cough syrup was banned by the government in 2018 due to its widespread abuse, which contributed to criminal behavior and health problems among Nigerian youth.