… Intercepts 299 cartons of Codeine, 4,252 bags of rice, PMS, others in two weeks
In its quest to rid the Nigerian society of illicit drugs and other illegal goods, the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 299 cartons of Codeine syrup along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway including other illegally imported goods.
The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on Wednesday announced the significant strides made by the Customs in combating the illicit trade of drugs within the nation’s borders.
The comptroller general also stated that a total of 4,252 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each) were seized at Dangote)/Imashayi, Ogun State, Shaki axis of Oyo State, Owode/Ado, Idiroko/Ohumbe in Ogun State, Okoko Mile 2 Axis in Lagos State and Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
He also announced that 5,600 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) were intercepted and seized when the daredevil smugglers attempted to takeout these strategic resource through Oja-Odan axis in Ogun State.
Other items seized in the last two weeks, according to the Customs boss, include:
*291 Bales of Second-hand Clothing
* 57 Sacks and 4 Jumbo Sacks of Used Shoes
* 486 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products
*190 Pieces of Rugs
* 5 Units of Vehicles
* 170 pieces of used tyres
Building upon the insights shared during our recent press conference addressing the seizure of a range of illicit substances, this update focuses on the resolute efforts of our diligent customs officers in intercepting yet another shipment of illicit drugs.
Commenting on the seizures, the Comptroller General stressed the unwavering commitment of Customs to safeguarding Nigerian society and protecting the well-being of citizens.
He said that the Service has once again demonstrated its dedication to eradicating the menace of drug trafficking as
officers of the Federal Operating Unit Zone A, acting on credible intelligence, flagged down a DAF truck close to Ijebu-Ode Junction which on examination revealed the concealment of 299 cartons of Codeine syrup.
Adeniyi said that the Service is yet again drawing national attention to the danger posed by unrestricted access to the use of dangerous drugs. According to him, Codeine syrup is designated as a controlled item due to its rampant abuse by our delinquent youth.
“The misuse and illicit distribution of codeine-containing medications have given rise to grave security and public health concerns, contributing to a surge in addiction, adverse health effects, and societal challenges. In response, regulatory measures have been implemented to curb its availability and unrestricted access. “This underscores the importance of addressing this issue as part of broader efforts to safeguard public health and well-being. On our part we will continue to partner with the NDLEA and other relevant government agencies to curb the spread of the menace and protect the future generations of Nigerians,” he stated.
The CGC noted that smugglers of rice and premium motor spirit have continued to test the revenue collecting agency’s will to put them out of business. In his words: “Smuggling of rice compromise our revenue and sabotage our food security,”
He remarked that despite the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal on the nation’s economy, smugglers still attempt to smuggle PMS across the border, but that they met their waterloo in different operations conducted by officers of the Service.
The CGC stated that these seizures are a fallout of the Customs’ uncompromising position to strictly enforce the law and protect the lives of the people.
‘The codeine syrup, which is reportedly being abused by mostly young persons in society, is associated with addiction and, in the long-term, results in anxiety, depression, memory loss, and damage to the liver, kidneys and brain. It is pertinent to note that the damaging effects of drugs have led to preventable deaths for consumers taking them outside doctors’ prescriptions.
“The 340 pieces of used tyres seized within the first two weeks of August 2023 by this unit is not only limited to the implementation of import prohibition lists but also a giant stride to mitigate auto crashes caused by smuggled used tyres.
“These tyres are squeezed, compressed and tucked into themselves for ease of concealment, thereby causing them to crack. They are oftentimes expired, their rigidity and strength compromised. Drivers could experience a blowout or sudden rupture as the steel wire meant to keep the tyres in shape has been disorganised in the course of smuggling.
“We once again advise that any investment made into the smuggling business is meant to be a loss because we will keep battling these enemies of our country. I urge all patriotic Nigerians to continuously support the Nigeria Customs Service with helpful information that will aid our efforts to curb smuggling and arrest suspects.
Fielding questions from journalists, the comptroller general hinted that In two weeks time the Customs administration in Benin Republic will be coming to Abuja to continue where they started discussion in Benin Republic and get a wide range of agreement on what the next strategy would be.
He said that officers of the Service have been on trail of the Codeine smugglers for quite some time before intercepting them in Ijebu Ode.
His words: “We had very credible intelligence regarding the movement of this particular truck, we followed the intelligence and we got the result.”
The CGC informed that the working visit he embarked upon in the last one month was to rebuild strategies, intense engagements with the officers and they are already seeing the results of these efforts. He stated that the seizures cut across the entire South West, “so what it means is that whatever efforts, strategies we have put in place in the last two weeks is working and as we are announcing this year, we are also having announcements at the ports and in the next few days, I will invite you to come see what we have seized in the ports.
“I can assure you that by the time we fully integrate technology into this, the result will even be more impressive than what we are having now.
“Smuggling is bad for the country and also bad for the future generations of Nigeria. Customs alone cannot successfully combat smuggling, so I sought the partnership of the Royal Heads in all the states I have visited and they all have their strong assurance that they are going to cooperate with us. We are going to be working with these Royal Heads in the different states across the country. We are going to be working closely with them and this is why we also said that we also need to take a much further our Corporate Social Responsibility CSR plan to bring those members of the community where we operate and see what we can do to improve their lots in those border communities.
“We are also building the capacity of our officers locally and training institutions within and exposing them to those kind of training programmes to integrate the elements of technology into our operations,” the CGC explained.