Regulator seizes 100,000 bottles of codeine syrup in Rivers

*The damage 100,000 bottles of Codeine syrup and 146.95 kilograms of Khat would have done to Nigerian youths if they had slipped through the port to our villages, towns and cities, is unimaginable ─Mohammed Buba Marwa, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As part of its continued offensive against drug trafficking and use of illicit substances in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said the operatives of the agency intercepted and seized about 100,000 bottles of Codeine syrup with a total weight of 15,325kilograms at the weekend at the Onne Seaport, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, in a statement said the operatives discovered the illicit substance, cough syrup with codeine (100mg), packed in 500 cartons and concealed in a container marked MRKU 1565305, bearing imported food masks made in India Thursday, June 10, 2021.

According to Babafemi, the contraband was found in a warehouse at the Onne Port Complex during a joint examination with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department of State Service (DSS), and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) among others.

The Spokesman explained that the seizure followed an intelligence received by NDLEA, as a result of which the container was put on hold and moved to the Customs government warehouse within the port complex.

However, the NDLEA noted that no importer or agent has since come forward in respect of the container but said efforts were ongoing to track the owner for further investigation and prosecution.

Likewise, operatives of the anti-narcotics agency at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in Abuja, FCT, were also reported to have confiscated nine cartons of Khat, weighing 146.95kilograms at the cargo wing of the airport.

It was gathered that the consignment packaged as dried green tea was shipped from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on board Ethiopian Airlines’ flight ET911.

According to the agency, following an initial examination and suspicion, a clearing agent was asked to report with the consignee before the release, but failed to do so for fear of arrest, a development that led to a laboratory test on the consignment, which tested positive to Khat and the eventual seizure.

In reaction to the development, Brig.-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd.), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, again, has commended the officers and Commands for the synergy among the various government agencies at the Onne Port.

Marwa charged them not to rest on their oars as they daily work hard to keep Nigeria and Nigerian consumers safe.

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive commended the Commander, officers and men of the Port Harcourt Port Command and their Abuja Airport Command counterparts for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding Nigeria of illicit drugs.

He said: “The damage 100,000 bottles of codeine would have done to our youths if they had slipped through the port to our villages, towns and cities, is unimaginable. 146.95 kilograms of Khat could have done the same damage if allowed to go into our streets.

“We’ll continue to motivate our officers and men so that they can give their best in the discharge of their responsibilities across the country and ultimately with the support of all our stakeholders and partners, we’ll win the battle against illicit drug trafficking and abuse,” Marwa stated.