The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne Port in Rivers State, has made a significant bust, intercepting 22 containers loaded with illicit drugs, including Codeine cough syrup, diclofenac, and a large quantity of donkey skin.
This accomplishment was made possible through collaborative efforts with sister agencies, such as the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC), Department of State Security (DSS), and Nigeria Agricultural (NAQS) at the port.
Comptroller Mohammed Babandede disclosed this information during a press briefing on Monday at the port, highlighting the command’s commitment to combating illegal activities.
The recent seizure adds to the command’s impressive record, having generated N312 billion in revenue in the first half of the year and seizing seven containers of drugs worth N11.2 billion.
The intercepted items include: Codeine cough syrup, a highly regulated substance due to its potential for abuse. Diclofenac: a pain relief medication and Donkey skin, seized in large quantities, potentially destined for illegal trade
He added that the seizures were consequent upon the Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi’ declared state of emergency at the Port during his last visit to the Command two months ago.
Babandede revealed that the confiscated items where concealed by the perpetrators in sanitary wares, waste connector and chilly cutters.
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 others in implementing the State of Emergency, has made yet another significant seizure of 20 40 feet and one 20 feet container laden with illicit drugs, which poses a severe threat to public health and safety and a one 20 feet container laden with donkey skin.”
Giving a breakdown of the confiscated items, Babandede enumerated thus; 2,624,053 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.
“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 amounted to N46,399,119,810, while the duty paid value of the container with the donkey skin is N441,000,000.
Babandede who restating his commitment to ensuring public safety
stated, “These seizures underscores our unwavering commitment to combating illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of public.
“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 noted that on anti-smuggling, the command within 2024 seized a total of 63 containers.
In revenue generation, Babandede disclosed that the command has generated a total of N550,431,559,598.41, translating to 89 percent of the annual target of 618 billion given to the Command.
He however commended all sister agencies operating at the port for their support, adding that the confiscated drugs would be handed over to NAFDAC and NDLEA while the donkey skin would handed over to the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).