The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne, in Rivers State, has seized containers containing illegally imported drugs, including fake tablets of Gonorrhoea antibiotics, with a total value exceeding N46.399bn.
The command also announced that it has generated over N500bn in revenue so far in 2024.
Customs Area Controller for Area 2 Command, Onne, Comptroller Mohammed Ndede, revealed this during a media briefing in Onne, where he displayed the seized drugs and tablets to the press.
Ndede noted that it had been exactly two months and seven days since the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, visited Onne Port to showcase significant seizures, including arms and ammunition, made by the command’s officers.
He stated, “The security concern from the series of seizures of contraband goods made through this port led to the declaration of a three-month state of emergency, where the command has been granted the authority to scrutinise all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.”
Ndede explained that this proactive measure was designed to ensure that no illegal substances would escape scrutiny.
He continued, “In line with the Controller General of Customs policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration, more successes have been recorded.”
The command, in collaboration with sister agencies such as the NDLEA, the DSS, Quarantine, and NAFDAC, among others, in implementing the state of emergency, has made another significant seizure of 20 40-foot containers and one 20-foot container, all loaded with illicit drugs that pose a severe threat to public health and safety.
“Then, we have one 20-foot container laden with donkey skin,” Ndede added.
The breakdown of the seizure by the Customs Area 2 Command, Onne, includes: 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/Tamil, and 7,665,000 tablets of 200ml fake/counterfeit Gonorrhoea antibiotics without NAFDAC number, among others.
Ndede further disclosed, “The duty paid value of the 21 containers totals N46,399,199,810, while the duty paid value for the donkey skin is N441,000,000.”
He noted that the seized goods were intercepted at the point of entry by vigilant officers, with some drugs concealed under plumbing materials and local grinding materials to evade detection.
Ndede emphasized that these seizures demonstrate the command’s steadfast commitment to fighting illicit medicine and safeguarding public health.
According to Ndede, “The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proved effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”
Continuing on anti-smuggling efforts, Ndede reported that the command, under his leadership this year, has seized a total of 63 containers, including 844 rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, among other contraband.
He revealed that the duty paid value of these seizures, along with violations of various customs laws and breaches of procedural standards, amounted to N130,562,660,407.
Ndede highlighted the importance of export to Nigeria’s economic growth, job creation, and the favorable balance of trade and exchange rate for the naira to the dollar. He noted that the command processed a total of 2,436,408.33 metric tons of goods with a free onboard value of $826,613,015.87.
On revenue generation, Ndede stated, “The command, as of this morning, has generated a total revenue of N550,431,559,598.41bn.”
“This translates to 89 percent of the annual target of N618bn given to the command,” he added.
Ndede confirmed that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the latest seizures, and investigations are ongoing.
