Customs Seizes N3.4bn Codeine Syrup at Apapa Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confiscated codeine syrup valued at N3.4 billion at the Apapa port, a significant achievement in its ongoing efforts to combat the smuggling of prohibited items. The seizure, announced by Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi, involved 13 containers that were found to contain a total of 339,800 bottles of codeine syrup, a controlled substance regulated by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The operation was conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and was based on intelligence gathered five days prior. Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba emphasized that the Apapa port is no longer a safe haven for smugglers and criminal syndicates.

The operation, which took place on March 15, 2026, resulted in the discovery of codeine syrup concealed within household utensils. This latest interception underscores the NCS's commitment to enforcing regulations and combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.