Apapa Customs Seizes N3.398 Billion Worth Of Codeine Syrup In Joint Operation

Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria  – March 16, 2026: Barely five days after the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC , Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared that Apapa Port is “no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates,” officers of the Command, have recorded another major breakthrough.

In a joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the Command intercepted and seized two containers laden with 3,398 cartons (339,800 bottles) of codeine-containing syrup concealed in household utensils.

Container No. MRKU 3816476: 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 38 cartons of pearl plating insulated casserole/5' Bullet Insulated Hotspot.

Container No. TGBU 5399178: 1,698 cartons (169,800 bottles) of CSP Codeine concealed with 36 cartons of pearl plating casserole.

The total seizure carries a Duty Paid Value, DPV of N3.4 billion. Both containers have been converted to seizure in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (as amended).

Speaking on the interception, Customs Area Controller, CAC of Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, said the operation demonstrates the Command’s alignment with the CGC’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy.

“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,” Oshoba stated.

He commended the NDLEA for its seamless collaboration and support in the successful operation.

Oshoba reaffirmed that Apapa Command remains resolute in protecting public health, safeguarding national security, and facilitating only legitimate trade. He emphasized that the Command’s operations are guided by the CGC’s renewed emphasis on technology-driven enforcement and zero tolerance for smuggling.

The seizure underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and the Service’s determination to disrupt illicit trade while reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to public safety.