Customs Intercept 21 Trailer Load of Tramadol, Codeine in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has  intercepted about 21 trailer load of tramadol, codeine and other restricted drugs worth N5 billion which were illegally imported into the country at an unnamed warehouse along Oshodi Apapa expressway, Lagos

The interception was made by the Headquarters Strike Force, Zone A’ under its unit leader, Deputy Comptroller Usman Yahaya on Sunday 13th August, 2019.

While addressing newsmen at the Customs Training College, Ikeja on Friday, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah said that a truck driver have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

According to him, the Customs service has since sealed off the warehouse and the service is carrying out forensic investigation to determine how the deadly drugs found their way into Nigeria.

He said due to the large quantity of the offending drugs, they were still being evacuated from the warehouse into customs custody, and would subsequently be subjected to judicial process and destruction. 

Attah said “Operating on the erroneous believe that festive period is a time of merriment and less vigilance, smugglers of illicit drugs attempted to move their deadly drugs from Lagos to other part of the country”

“On Sunday, August 13, 2019 at about 2am, the operatives of the Headquarters Strike force zone A’ intercepted one truck laden with dreaded codeine, tramadol and other controlled pain killers along Maryland, Ikeja.

“This was immediately brought to the attention of the team leader, Deputy Controller of Customs, Usman Yahaya who deepened preliminary investigation that led to the discovering of a warehouse along Oshodi-Mile 2 road stocked with dreaded tramadol, codeine and other unregistered pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC numbers.”

He disclosed that the warehouse was immediately sealed with a detachment of well armed officers to guard the place. 

He hinted that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali has directed a thorough investigation with a view to bringing all those connected to the drugs to justice. He said evacuated of the drugs to the Federal Operations Unit has commenced.

His words, “while investigation goes on, the Service sees the feat by the HQ Strikeforce as another breakthrough in the ongoing crack down on smugglers especially those who want to make money at the expense of human lives.

“You will recall that last month, NCS in collaboration with NAFDAC commenced destruction of over N14 billion worth of seized illicit drugs.

This hard stands against smugglers of items that could negatively affect the economy and security of the nation is resolute and will continue till these elements have a change of heart.”

He therefore, called on well meaning Nigerians to support the Nigeria Customs Service on the patriotic resolution to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.