Customs intercepts N1.2bn worth of Codeine at Alaba market

Customs operatives attached to the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, on Tuesday stormed Alaba International market, Ojo during which a truck conveying 2,748 cartons of DSP Codeine worth about N1.2 billion was intercepted. The drug was said to have been smuggled into the country through unapproved route. Customs Area Controller FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, […]

Customs operatives attached to the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, on Tuesday stormed Alaba International market, Ojo during which a truck conveying 2,748 cartons of DSP Codeine worth about N1.2 billion was intercepted.

The drug was said to have been smuggled into the country through unapproved route.

Customs Area Controller FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Comproller Mohammed Uba made this disclosure yesterday at a press conference held in Lagos.

Uba said that operatives had been on the trail of the truck after they received an intelligence report on the illegal movement of the consignments.

He said that the team trailed the MAN Diesel truck with registration numbers XB 286 BEN to Afromedia Estate beside Alaba international.

He said: “The truck was flagged down and when it was searched it discovered about 2,748 cartons of DSP Codeine Cough syrup 100 mg with each carton containing 100 packs and 95 cartons of Chaka pain Xtra.

“This is the second time in a row the unit is intercepting these substances since the Federal Government banned the importation of cough syrup that contains Codeine. 

“The seized substance is valued at N1.175 billion. The driver of the truck on sighting the custom men abandoned the truck and the products and fled.”

Uba said that in the same vein operatives from the unit, based on intelligence report recovered 49 cartons of Tramadol capsules 100 mg.

He said that the banned substances were evacuated from a warehouse in Ajao Estate adding that they will be handed over to officials of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation.