Apapa Customs strikes again : Seizes N78m worth of Codeine

Apapa Customs strikes again :
Seizes N78m worth of Codeine

* Intercepts 9 Containers of unprocessed Wood

* Collects N95.3 bn revenue in January 2022

Aside generating huge revenue for the Federal Government at the premier port,
Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) is leaving no stone unturned in the war against illicit trade.

Using credible intelligence, the Command just intercepted 9 containers of unprocessed and semi processed wood at the point of loading into a vessel.

The Command also seized a container of unregistered pharmaceuticals (codeine syrup and col caps) with duty paid value of N78,797,975.00 – approximately NN78.8million.

Giving a breakdown of the wood seizures’ value, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Compt Yusuf Malanta said it is worth N70,559,775.00

Compt Yusuf attributed the successes recorded by the Command to inter-agency synergies between Customs and sister organisations like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), among others.

He said the collaboration with NDLEA has helped in gathering intelligence, leading to seizures of prohibited items, as the Command acts swiftly on reliable information without waiting for importers to come forward before effecting examination on suspected cargoes.

He said efforts at making Apapa Port a no-go area for unlawful trade will always be sustained while ensuring that maximum revenue is collected into government coffers from all legitimate transactions.

While arrests are yet to be made, the CAC said investigations are on-going by the Service and NDLEA to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the illegal importation.

Comptroller Yusuf reiterated that the Command is committed to surpassing its revenue collection of N870 billion in 2021.

He said a total of N95.3 billion was collected in January 2022, which surpassed the N54.3 billion collected in January 2021 by N39 billion

The CAC noted: “These are seizures of timber and rock balsam, under HS Code 44011000 to 44039000, and they contravene Sections 63 and 64 of the Export Trade (improper exportation of items).

He added : “The Command is going to make sure that recalcitrant traders are brought to book and exportation of prohibited items are not allowed to pass through Apapa port.
The DPV of the wood for all nine containers stood at ₦70, 559,775.00

“Another container number TCKU 6800526 which was laden with 702 cartons of codeine syrup (each carton contains 200 pieces) and 347 cartons of Col caps (each carton contains 2,000 pieces) were also seized by the Command, with a street value of ₦78,787,975.00

Controller Yusuf further commended officers/men of the Command for not relenting in discharging their official responsibilities.

Also, the NDLEA Commander in Apapa Port, Samuel Gadzama promised stronger synergy with Customs to prevent such importation, added that upon due diligence through a court process, the seized drugs would be publicly destroyed in line with extant laws.