Florence Sadiku
THE Area II Command Onne of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced the interception of twenty 40-foot and one 20-foot container laden with illicit drugs and donkey skins.
During a press briefing at the Command headquarters on Monday, 11 November 2024, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, stated that the Command made this significant seizure – which poses a severe threat to public health and safety – through collaboration with sister agencies, in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
He stated that concerns over the series of contraband seizures through the port had led to a declaration of a three-month state of emergency, granting the Command the authority to scrutinise all suspected containers. He said this measure aims to ensure that no illegal substances evade detection.
Babandede outlined the seizures from the twenty 40-foot and one 20-foot containers, which included: 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with 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/Tamolx; 7,665,000 tablets of 200ml counterfeit gonorrhoea antibiotics without a NAFDAC number; 15,600,000 tablets of counterfeit 4mg chlorpheniramine; 33,840,000 tablets of 2mg counterfeit Lemotil Loperamide; 19,430 pieces of chilli cutters used for concealment; 20,238 pieces of sanitary fittings (taps/toilet seats) used for concealment; 26,400 tubes of 30mg counterfeit permethrin cream; 480,000 tablets of counterfeit Stapsiril; 112,500 tablets of counterfeit multi-mineral supplements; 28 drums of diphenhydramine hydrochloride I.P., each weighing 25kg; 3,388 waste connector pieces used for concealment; and 2,100 pieces of donkey skins. The duty-paid value (DPV) of the twenty-one containers totals ₦46,399,119,810, while the DPV for the donkey skins is ₦441,000,000.
On anti-smuggling activities, he revealed that under his stewardship in 2024, the Command has made a total seizure of 63 containers, comprising 844 rifles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, and more than 6,469,253 bottles of 100ml syrup with codeine, with a total DPV of ₦130,562,660,407.
According to him, these seizures underscore their unwavering commitment to combating illicit medicine and ensuring public safety. “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,” he said.
He went on to add that “In the area of trade facilitation, the Command utilises the World Customs Organisation trade facilitation tool, the Time Release Study (TRS), to maximise revenue. The result of utilising this tool over the past months has been unprecedented.”
Highlighting the importance of exports, he reported that a total of 2,436,408.33 metric tonnes of goods, with a Free On-Board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87, was processed through the Command.
He further disclosed that the Command has generated total revenue of ₦550,431,559,598.41 in 2024, which represents 89% of the annual target of ₦618 billion set for the Command.
Eighteen-Eleven Media