Customs intercept 16 containers of illicit drugs

The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, said it intercepted 16 containers of illicit substances, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other items discharged between May 17  and October 23, 2024, with a duty-paid value of N4bn.

Addressing journalists at the command in Apapa, Lagos on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Dera Nnadi, added that between January and November 7, 2024, the command collected a total of N1.046tn worth of revenue, stressing that it was the first time the command would achieve that feat in revenue collection.

He maintained that the command achieved this feat in revenue generation through stakeholders’ cooperation.

“We are glad to announce that the command as of today the 7th of November 2024 has generated the sum of N1.046tn,” Nnadi stated.
This is even as he said that 13 containers of illicit drugs would be handed over to officers of the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control.

He explained that these containers were inspected by multiple agencies including, the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, among others.

Giving details of the seizures, he explained that some of the containers were carrying numerous shipments of cough syrups with codeine, barcadin, broncleer, and DSP for throat and chesty cough packaged in 100ml, 200ml bottles per carton.
“Others contain, 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg), 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal, 77 packets of cannabis sativa weighing 38.5kg, 532 packets weighing 265.025kg, and 75 packets weighing 37.5kg, Really Extra brand packed in 50mg, 100 packs per carton,” he explained.

He added that other goods contained in the containers include ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, and Biomal Artesunate Injection among others.
The CAC stated that the drugs originated from countries like India, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Nnadi disclosed that on October 2, 2024, the command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of N682m.

“These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers with registration numbers, MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination,” he said.

Nnadi dedicated the achievement to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and other officers of the command.

The Tincan Customs boss vowed that the command will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at their disposal in collaboration with local and foreign partner security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country.
“We are more than committed to delivering on this mandate,” Nnadi averred.

Aware that the Yuletide is around the corner, Nnadi reassured all stakeholders that the command will partner with those compliant traders to ensure there are no delays in their cargo delivery.

“Similarly, we are also using this opportunity to inform those who will dare our resolve that we are ready to enforce the requirements of our law,” he warned.