Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have again intercepted 40,250 kilogrammes of (codeine) worth over N2 billion imported in two 40 feet containers from India.
Codeine, an opiate and prodrug of morphine used to treat pain, cough, and diarrhea, is a Schedule II controlled narcotic requiring permit before importation into the country.
Codeine, along with marijuana and alcohol are the top three drugs mostly abused in Nigeria, particularly by the youths who use it to derive feelings of elation and euphoria. Experts believe that addiction to codeine adversely affects health, finances and relationships.
The latest interception of the substance is barely a week after 14,080 kilogrammes of codeine-based syrup and 4,352.4 kilogrammes cold caps used to conceal the former in a 40ft container imported from India were seized at the Apapa port in Lagos.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the latest consignments intercepted last Tuesday were brought into the country in two containers marked HLBU 2239792 with 1,125 cartons of the drug and HLBU 1067338 with 1,751 cartons, with a market value of N2,012,500,000.
He disclosed that the consignments were seized at the Port Express Bonded Terminal, Berger-Apapa, after they were discovered concealed behind cartons of hypergra 200 miligramme and deluxe chilly cutters, after which the agency’s sniffer dogs were brought in to identify the illegal import.
Reacting to the latest seizure, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, said the agency remains poised to deal decisive blows to drug cartels this year by curtailing illicit importation of the opiate.
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