Yesterday in the Apapa Port in Lagos, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) discovered illegal drugs worth N1.4 billion disguised in kitchen equipment.
This comes after the agency destroyed 48 containers containing Tramadol, codeine, and other psychotropic medications less than a week ago.
According to the Apapa Command of the Service, the prohibited substance's cartons were hidden in a container that also included food flasks and other culinary utensils.
Speaking with The Nation about the seizure, its Area Controller (CAC), Yusuf Malanta, claimed that the unpatriotic importers had claimed that the container holding the contraband was actually carrying kitchen supplies.
He said, “On 21st of July, 2022, acting on incredible intelligence, our officers successfully intercepted a 1 by 20ft container with number SUDU-7538656 manifested as 272 cartons of stainless steel hotpots. It was captured and declared as cooking appliances, measuring/checking instrument and furnace burners to evade arrest.
“The said container was positioned, opened and jointly examined with relevant agencies and found to contain 55 Cartons of Tramadol concealed in food flasks.
Each carton of Tramadol contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 10 packs and each pack contains 10 sachet of Tramadol.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our action of impounding this container is in line with the provisions of Sections 46 and 47 of Customs Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.”