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Customs seizes over N1bn worth of codeine syrup in two weeks

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Customs seizes over N1bn worth of codeine syrup in two weeks

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja says it has seized 2,748 cartons of DSP codeine cough syrup worth N1,175,200,000 between July 25 and August 7, 2018.

The impounded goods were part of seized contraband valued at N2.55 billion within the period.

The Controller of NCS for the unit, Mohammed Garuba, made this disclosure on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to him, the codeine syrup was found in a MAN diesel truck with registration number XB 286 BEN, along Afromedia Estate, by Egbeda junction, beside Alaba International market.

In May, the Federal Government had banned the importation of cough syrup containing codeine following a BBC documentary exposing the abuse of the substance among young people.

Garuba said the interception was the second time in a row by the unit since the prohibition of the item.

He added that information had also led to the evacuation of 49 cartons of 100 milligram Tramadol capsules from a warehouse in Ajao Estate, saying that the drugs would be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation.

Read Also: Nigeria imports 4.79bn litres of petrol in 3 months

He listed contraband intercepted within the period to include 21 sacks of pangolin scales weighing 1,031 kilogram and four pieces of elephant tusk weighing 29.35 kilogram which were evacuated from a shop located in Tejuosho market in Victoria Island, based on information by the Warehouse Operations team led by Mutalib Sule.

“The seized endangered species have a duty paid value of N253.6m. You will recall that the Minister of State for Environment, Mallam Usman Jibril, accompanied by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species delegates from the United Nations visited the unit, inspected the previous seizure of such endangered species this year and even commended us for a job well done.

“The trade in such endangered species is globally prohibited, hence the need for us all to fight against such illegality so that such endangered species do not go into extinction,” he said.

Other seizures recorded within the two weeks are 39 sacks and 1,220 parcels of 1,610 kilogram of Indian Hemp, uncovered in a transit bus in Ogun State; 17 units of exotic vehicles; 1,380 bags of foreign parboiled rice; 1,126 pieces of used shoes; and 140 cans of vegetable oil.

 

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