By Kenneth Jukpor
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed the seizure of 13 containers of tramadol valued at N3,134,029,290.00 at Tin Can Island Port.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd) who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, DCG Austin Chidi displayed the items at the Tin Can Command in Lagos, earlier today.
According to the Customs boss, the seizures include; 11x 40ft and 2x 20ft containers of Tramadol, Ciprofloxacin capsules, Diclofenac Sodium Tablets, Soffeathe I.V Cannula, Sildencfil Citrate Tablets, Bleaching Soaps, Bales of used Clothing with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Billion, One hundred and Thirty-four million, Twenty-nine thousand, Two hundred and ninety naira (N3,134,029,290.00).
DCG Chidi noted that two of the containers had earlier been handed over to NAFDAC on October 11th and 20th, while one container of Tramadol was handed over to NDLEA on November 2nd, 2017.
“In the same vein, a container of soap suspected to contain harmful bleaching ingredients and two (2) containers of soap suspected to contain harmful bleaching ingredients and two containers of used clothing were seized in line with the provisions of CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004 Sections 46 and 161. All the seizures were in violation of the absolute prohibition list of CET 2015- 2019”, he said.
The Customs boss said the Service achieved this feat through vigilance and intelligence gathering within the system, as well as robust synergy and collaboration of critical stakeholders and the security agencies.
On the aspect of revenue generation, he stated that the Command had collected and generated a total of N303.5billion from January 2018 till date.
Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller at the Command, CAC Musa Baba Abdullahi lamented that the problem of illegal tramadol import continues to increase.
“This tramadol issue is addictive and it leads to other illicit vices like stealing, armed robbery among others. In the Northern part of the country, the problem has ravaged the region and it is an issue that demands urgent attention from all stakeholders including the press. The need for enlightenment on this issue can never be overemphasized” he said.
Recall that 40 containers of tramadol and other pharmaceutical products were seized and displayed at Apapa Customs Command by the CG of Customs on Thursday, this week.
