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Containers filled with illegally imported drugs, including counterfeit tablets worth more than N46.399 billion, have been seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Area 2 Command in Onne, Rivers State.
This major haul underscores the Customs Service’s ongoing campaign against the illegal drug trade and counterfeit products entering the country.
So far in 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service has generated more than N500 billion in revenue. Comptroller Mohammed Ndede, who oversees the Area 2 Command in Onne, revealed this during a media briefing on Monday, where he presented the recently seized drugs and counterfeit tablets to the press.
Ndede remarked that it had been precisely two months and seven days since Controller General Bashir Adeniyi’s visit to Onne Port, where he had showcased several major seizures. Among the items displayed during that visit were arms and ammunition, all confiscated by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command.
He stated, “The security concern arising from the series of contraband seizures at this port led to the declaration of a three-month state of emergency, granting the Command authority to scrutinise all suspected containers, regardless of whether their owners are present.”
Ndede clarified that this proactive strategy was aimed at ensuring that no illegal items would escape detection, reinforcing the importance of vigilance in the Customs’ enforcement efforts.
He added, “In line with the Controller General of Customs’ policy of consolidation and collaboration, more successes have been recorded.
“The Command, working with sister agencies such as the NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine, and NAFDAC, among others, in implementing the state of emergency, has made yet another significant seizure of twenty 40-foot and one 20-foot container filled with illicit drugs that pose a serious threat to public health and safety.
“Additionally, we have a 20-foot container laden with donkey skins.”
The Customs Area 2 Command, Onne Controller, provided the breakdown as follows: 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine, 7,530,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac.
Ndede further listed 3,500,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/Tamil, and 7,665,000 tablets of 200mg counterfeit Gonorrhoea Antibiotics without a NAFDAC number, among others.
Continuing, Comptroller Ndede disclosed, “The Duty Paid Value of the 21 containers totals N46,399,199,810, while the Duty Paid Value for the donkey skins is N441,000,000.”
He noted that the seized items were intercepted at the entry point by vigilant officers and that some of the drugs had been concealed under plumbing materials and local grinding tools to avoid detection.
Ndede said these seizures underscore the Command’s unwavering commitment to combatting illicit drugs and ensuring public safety.
Ndede added, “The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”
“Regarding anti-smuggling activities, under my stewardship this year, including the latest seizures displayed here, we have made a total of 63 container seizures, including 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition,” among others.
He disclosed that the Duty Paid Value of seizures made so far, for breaches of various customs laws and procedural standards, totals N130,562,660,407.
Ndede also noted that exports play a crucial role in promoting Nigeria’s economic growth, creating jobs, and maintaining a favourable balance of trade and exchange rate for the naira against the dollar.
“In this Command, a total of 2,436,408.33 metric tonnes of goods, with a free-on-board value of $826,613,015.87, has been processed,” he stated.
On revenue generation this year, Ndede said, “As of this morning, the Command has generated total revenue of N550,431,559,598.41 billion.
“This translates to 89 per cent of the annual target of N618 billion set for the Command.”
