In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted 3,398 cartons of codeine syrup with a street value of N3.398 billion.
The illicit substances, totaling 339,800 bottles, were cleverly concealed inside imported kitchenware and household utensils at the Apapa Port.
The operation, which took place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, was a joint effort between the Customs command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Isah Sulaiman, the seizure is a testament to the heightened inter-agency collaboration aimed at securing Nigeria’s borders.
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, noted that the seizure comes just five days after a stern warning from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, that the port would no longer be a safe haven for criminal elements.
"This fresh seizure is a direct response to the CGC’s charge. We are fully aligned with the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy and will continue to make Apapa Port extremely hostile to smugglers," Oshoba stated.
The illicit cargo was split between two 40-foot containers. The first, MRKU 3816476, held 170,000 bottles hidden among insulated casseroles.
The second container, TGBU 5399178, contained 169,800 bottles similarly masked by kitchenware.
Both containers have been seized in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to public health and legitimate trade, thanking the NDLEA for its "seamless collaboration" in this high-stakes interception.
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