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* Arrests two suspects
By Kenneth Jukpor
In what can be described as a shocking seizure, the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) foiled attempts by some suspects to smuggle 10 cartons of 225mg tramadol tablets valued at N2.8 million out of the port, using an ambulance.
Two suspects, Michael Ajibade (driver) and Olatunde Emmanuel (escort), were said to have been intercepted by customs officers at 11p.m last Friday on their way out of the port in the ambulance, which was usually stationed at the port complex for medical emergencies and belonged to Medbury Medical Services, an industrial medical services provider.
The Area Commander, Compt. Mohammed Abba-Kura, revealed this while addressing newsmen yesterday, explaining that the officers were on routine surveillance when they suspected the vehicle laden with the prohibited articles of trade, attributing it to the command’s 24-hour surveillance in and around the port.
According to him, “an investigation into the source of the stolen tramadol revealed that the drugs were pilfered from an undeclared container. Physical examination further revealed that 211 cartons of the drugs were missing from the container. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the stolen drugs stands at (approximately) N59.4 million.”
The Hyundai Ambulance with registration number LND605XW was intercepted with the drugs worth about N2.8 million, while trying to smuggle it out of the ports in an emergency manner.
Explaining the details, he said: “On the night of Friday 12,July, 2019, at about 2300 hours (11.00pm), my officers on routine surveillance intercepted an ambulance suspected to be laden with offending articles of trade. Upon examination, the ambulance was discovered to be carrying 10cartons of 225mg Tramadol tablets valued at N2.8 million.” He said.
Recall that the Federal Government through the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had banned the importation of Tramadol in excess of 100mg.
The customs comptroller said: “It is regrettable to state that while the customs is working round the clock to free this country of illicit goods, some recalcitrant and unpatriotic citizens are not relenting in their desperate urge to sabotage our efforts”
He disclosed that the container, allegedly shipped from India by Pacific International Limited (PIL) as general merchandise, was neither declared nor yet positioned for examination but on examination after the suspects’ interception and further revelation, its original seal was found to have been broken.
He assured that anybody caught wanting in connection with the deal would be charged to court of competent jurisdiction for proper prosecution.
Abba Kura said the Apapa command has realized about N20 billion in the last 12 working days (July1st to July 15th, 2019).
During interrogation by journalists, the driver, Ajibade – an elderly man – denied knowledge of the content of the 10 cartons, stating that his yet-to-be-identified principal(s) promised him N2,000 just to take the items across the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) gate.
Similarly, the dockworker, who escorted the articles, said he was promised N50,000.
Abba-Kura also revealed that the command generated N20.02 billion in the last 12 working days from July 1 to 15, having earlier declared a half-year generated revenue of N203 billion.
