The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on Friday heaped praises on the Customs Area 2 command, Onne Rivers State and other stakeholders in the area for their collaborative effort in discharging their responsibilities.
The CG who gave the commendation while displaying contraband confiscated by the customs command attributed the feat to inter agency collaboration among government agencies at the port.
The seized items were 16 containers, 11 of which contained assorted types of illicit hard drugs all valued at over N20billion.
The CG explained that the illicit items were concealed beneath legitimate consumer goods, including chilly cutters and ceiling fans to exploit legitimate trade channels and evade regulatory scrutiny.
Providing details and break down of the seized items, the CG said, “The Command has successfully intercepted a total of sixteen (16) containers with an aggregate Duty Paid Value of Twenty Billion, Five Hundred and Fortynine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (₦20,549,998,200) as calculated in accordance with Service valuation protocols.
“Analysis of these seizures reveals sophisticated concealment tactics and systematic attempts to circumvent established import protocols. Eleven (11) containers were found to contain illicit pharmaceutical products: 1,301,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each); 9,300,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac.
“12,600,000 tablets of Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol (225mg each); 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol (5mg each); 210,000 tablets of Hyergra (200mg each); 17,360 tablets of Bisoveu g. 2,200,000 tablets of Bassuka (50mg each)
“The contraband items were strategically concealed within legitimate consumer goods including 9,280 pieces of chilly cutters, 118 pieces of ceiling fans, 2,610 pieces of plumbing materials, 2,268 pieces of Smart Tech vehicle parts, 97,200 tins of tomato paste, and 700 cartons of cream.”
The CGC said that the seized pharmaceutical products, if allowed entry in the country and the public, poses severe health risks including drug addiction.
“The potential impact of these illicit pharmaceuticals on public health and national security cannot be overstated. “Unregulated pharmaceutical products pose severe risks including drug addiction, compromised treatment outcomes, and the facilitation of organized criminal activities that threaten community safety and national stability,” he added.
Adeniyi said that the customs efforts are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s comprehensive approach to combating transnational organized crime and ensuring that Nigeria’s borders remain impenetrable to criminal enterprises seeking to compromise the country’s sovereignty.
Adeniyi disclosed that the Nigeria Customs had since intensified intelligence-led enforcement across all commands, particularly focusing on high-risk corridors and ports of entry, to ensure that importation and exportation of contraband goods becomes a thing of the past.
“The Nigeria Customs Service maintains steadfast commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s policy objectives of securing our borders, protecting public health, and safeguarding national security.
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While commending officers and men of the Port Harcourt Area II Command for their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication to duty which has led to the successful interceptions, the CG reaffirmed the service’ commitment to supporting President Tinubu’s security and economic transformation agenda through enhanced border management, strengthened inter-agency collaboration, and sustained anti-smuggling operations.
“We shall deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that Nigeria’s borders remain secure against those who would compromise our national health security and economic prosperity for criminal gains.
“We hereby serve notice to all criminal networks attempting to use our borders for illicit activities: the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with sister agencies, maintains zero tolerance for smuggling operations and will pursue the full weight of the law against all perpetrators,” he added.
Earlier, the Controller, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Mohammed Babandede, said the latest feat by the Command was achieved in collaboration with sister agencies most especially, NDLEA, NAFDAC and DSS.
“We have today, 11 x40 foot containers of illicit drugs, and 4 x 20 containers of prohibited tomatoes pastes, and 1 x40 container of assorted goods
“We were able to achieve this because of the excellent relationship and collaboration which has been part of the CGC’s policy trust on collaboration consolidation and innovation. So, we are not doing it alone, we are doing it in synergy with other sister agencies,” he said.
