Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have swooped on smugglers in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states to end drug trafficking and destroy the base of their illegal business.
Addressing reporters in Lagos on Wednesday, the acting Controller-General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said his officers and men took the step as part of their unwavering commitment to safeguard the society and protect the well-being of Nigerians.
Adeniyi said,
“Officers of the Federal Operating Unit Zone A, acting on credible intelligence, flagged down a DAF truck close to Ijebu-Ode Junction. An examination of the truck revealed the concealment of 299 cartons of codeine syrup along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.”
In his efforts to draw national attention to the danger posed by unrestricted access to the use of dangerous drugs, the Customs chief said;
“Codeine syrup is designated as a controlled item due to its rampant abuse by our delinquent youth. The misuse and illicit distribution of codeine-containing medications have given rise to grave security and public health concerns, contributing to a surge in addiction, adverse health effects, and societal challenges.”
“Smugglers of rice and premium motor spirit continue to test our will to put them out of business. The smuggling of rice compromises our revenue and sabotages our food security. Despite the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal on our economy, smugglers still attempt to smuggle PMS across the border. They met their Waterloo in different operations conducted by NCS officers of NCS. The following seizures of both items were recorded. A total of 4, 252 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each) at Dangote Imashayi Ogun State, Saki Axis Oyo State Owode/Ado Odo in Ogun state, Idiroko/Ohumbe Ogun State, Okoko Mile 2 Axis in Lagos State and Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. Similarly, 5600 litres of premium motor spirit were intercepted and seized when smugglers attempted to take out this strategic resource through Oja-dan also in Ogun State.”
According to him, other items seized in the last 2 weeks include: 291 Bales of Second-hand Clothing 57 Sacks and 4 Jumbo Sacks of Used Shoes, 486 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products, 190 Pieces of Rugs, five Units of Vehicles, 170 pieces of used tyres.
Adeniyi said,
“These seizures are a fallout of our uncompromising position to strictly enforce the law and protect the lives of our people. The codeine syrup, which is reportedly being abused by mostly young persons in society, is associated with addiction and, in the long-term, results in anxiety, depression, memory loss, and damage to the liver, kidneys and brain. It is pertinent to note that the damaging effects of drugs have led to preventable deaths for consumers taking them outside doctors’ prescriptions.”