Nigeria Customs Service Area 2 Command, Onne Port in Rivers State said it interrupted 21 containers of illicit drugs such as Codeine cough syrup, diclofenac and a container of donkey skin. Making this disclosure on Monday, the Commander Customs Area 2, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede while briefing newsmen at the Port, said the feat was achieved through collaboration with sister agencies such as The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NAFDAC, Department of State Security and others at the port. Babandede also said the seizures were inline with the charge by the Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who declared a state of emergency in the command following his visit to the Command two months ago. He said the seized items where concealed in sanitary wares, waste connector and chilly cutters, adding that they pose a great risks to public health.
“Inline with the Controller General of Custom’s policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration, the command working with sister agencies such as NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine and NAFDAC amongst other in implementing the State if Emergency, has made yet another significant seizure of twenty 40ft and one 20ft containers laden with illicit drugs, which poses a severe threat to public health and safety and a one 20ft container laden with donkey skin.” He gave a breakdown of the seizure to in include; 2,624053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine, 7,530,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 3,500,00 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol/Tamolx, 7,665,000 tablets of 200ml fake gonorrhoea antibiotics without NAFDAC number , 15,600,000 tablets of fake 4mg chlorphenamine, 33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine. The comptroller listed others to includes; 19,430 pieces of chilly cutter used for concealment, 29,238 pieces of sanitary fittings tap/ toilet seat used for concealment, 26,400 tubes of 30mg fake permethrin cream, 480,000 tablets of fake strapsiril, 112,500 tablets of fake multi mineral supplements, 28 drums of diphenhydramine hydrochloride IP of 25kg each, 3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment and 2,100 pieces donkey skin.
Babandede further revealed that the duty paid value of each of the 21 containers of the illicit drugs totals N46,399,119,810, while the duty paid value on container of donkey skin is N441,000,000. While restating his commitment to public safety, Babandede said: “These seizures underscores our unwavering commitment to combating illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of 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.”
He said that on anti-smuggling, the command this year has has seized a total of 63 containers. In revenue generation, Babandede said the command has generated a total of Five Hundred and Fifty Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira, Forty-Ine Kobo (N550,431,559,598.41) translating to 89 percent of the annual target of 618 billion given to the Command. He commended all sister agencies operating at the port for their support.
Customs intercepts 22 containers of contraband goods worth over N46bn in Rivers
