By: Felix Ikpotor
The Area 2 Command of the Nigeria
Customs, Onne Port in Rivers State says it has intercepted 21 containers ladened with illicit drugs such as Codeine cough syrup, diclofenac and a container of donkey skin.
Comptroller Customs Area 2, Mohammed Babandede, who stated this while displaying the seized containers before journalists at the Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne Seaport on Monday, said the seizures was made possible through collaboration with sister agencies such as The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NAFDAC, Department of State Security and others at the port.
He also said the seizures complies with the charge given to the command by the Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who declared a state of emergency in the command following his visit to the Command about two months ago.
The Area 2 Comptroller explained that the seized items where concealed in sanitary wares, waste connector and chilly cutters, adding that they pose a great risks to public health.
He said: “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.”
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, he said they in includes; 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 and 33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine.
He 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, disclosed 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.
Restating the Command’s 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 also 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 recorded huge success by generating 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 for the year 2024.
He further commended all sister agencies operating at the port for their support.
After the display of item, the illicit drugs were handed over to officials of NAFDAC and NDLEA while the donkey skin was handed over to the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) for appropriate actions.
