The Area 2 Onne Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Rivers State has disclosed that its men and officers intercepted no fewer than 21 containers of various illicit drugs and donkey skins with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦46.399 billion and ₦441 million respectively, amounting to N46.840 billion.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede made this known at a media briefing today, Monday, NOVEMBER 11, 2024 at the Command office in Onne.
He recalled that about two months ago, precisely on September 4, 2024, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi visited the Onne Port where he showcased series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command and that 12 containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination were displayed.
Babandede expressed concern over the security threat from the series of seizures of contraband goods made through this port that led to the declaration of a three month state of emergency where the Command had been granted the authority to scrutinize all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.
He said: “This proactive approach aims to ensure that no illegal substances can evade detection. In line with the Comptroller General of Customs Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration.
“The Command working with Sister Agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Directorate of State Service (DSS), Quarantine and NAFDAC among others in implementing the state of emergency, has made another significant seizure of 20 numbers of 40ft and one 20ft containers laden with illicit drugs.
“Without a doubt, these pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Then we have one 20ft container laden with donkey skin.”
Babandede gave the details of the seizures to include 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine; 7,530,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac; 3,500,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol; 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol, Tramadol and Tamolx; 7,665,000 tablets of 200ml fake and counterfeit Gonorrhea Antibiotics without NAFDAC number and 15,600,000 tablets of fake 4mg Chlorpheniramine.
Others are 33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine; 19,430 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment; 20,238 pieces of Sanitary Fittings Tap/toilet seat used for concealment; 26,400 tubes of 30mg fake Permethrin cream; 480,000 tablets of fake Stapsiril; 112,500 tablets of fake multi mineral supplement; 28 drums of diphenhydramine Hydrochloride ip of 25kg each; 3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment and 2,100 pieces of Donkey Skins.
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He revealed that the Duty paid Value (DPV) of the 21 containers of the illicit drugs amounted to ₦46.399 billion, while the DPV of the donkey skin was worth ₦441 million.
He said the seizures underscore the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of the public, adding: “The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”
On its anti-smuggling activities, he said the Command under stewardship also intercepted 63 containers comprising 844 raffles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, over 6,469,253 bottles of 100ml syrup with codeine and over 56,878,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol, Tramadol and Tamolx.
“Among others for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The Duty Paid Value of the seizures made so far is ₦130.562 billion.
“In the area of Export, you would agree with me that export plays a crucial role in any nation’s economy and Nigeria relies on it to promote economic growth, job creation and provides a favourable balance of trade and exchange rate for the naira to the dollar.
“We achieved over 2,436,408.33 metric tons of goods with a Free On Board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87 processed through the Command. In the past months, the Command generated a total revenue of ₦550.431 billion, representing 89 percent of its annual target of N618 billion,” he stated.
