Customs Foils Smuggling Attempt Worth ₦20.5bn

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat smuggling and protect the country’s borders. 

The Port Harcourt II Area Command of the NCS has successfully intercepted 16 containers with a Duty Paid Value of ₦20,549,998,200. 

The contraband items, including illicit pharmaceutical products, were strategically concealed within legitimate consumer goods.

According to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the seized items include 1,301,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup, 9,300,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac, 12,600,000 tablets of Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol, 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol, 210,000 tablets of Hyergra, 717,360 tablets of Bisoveu, and 2,200,000 tablets of Bassuka. 

These items were concealed within 9,280 pieces of chilly cutters, 118 pieces of ceiling fans, 2,610 pieces of plumbing materials, 2,268 pieces of Smart Tech vehicle parts, 97,200 tins of tomato paste, and 700 cartons of cream.

He said: “The Command has successfully intercepted a total of sixteen (16) containers with an aggregate Duty Paid Value of Twenty Billion, Five Hundred and Fortynine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (₦20,549,998,200) as calculated in accordance with Service valuation protocols.

“Analysis of these seizures reveals sophisticated concealment tactics and systematic attempts to circumvent established import protocols. Eleven (11) 

containers were found to contain illicit pharmaceutical products comprising: a. 1,301,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each) b. 9,300,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac c. 12,600,000 tablets of Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol (225mg each) d. 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol (5mg each) e. 210,000 tablets of Hyergra (200mg each) f. 717,360 tablets of Bisoveu g. 2,200,000 tablets of Bassuka (50mg each).

“The contraband items were strategically concealed within legitimate consumer goods including 9,280 pieces of chilly cutters, 118 pieces of ceiling fans, 2,610 pieces of plumbing materials, 2,268 pieces of Smart Tech vehicle parts, 97,200 tins of tomato paste, and 700 cartons of cream. This modus operandi represents calculated attempts to exploit legitimate trade channels while evading regulatory scrutiny.”

The Comptroller-General commended the officers and men of the Port Harcourt II Area Command for their vigilance and professionalism in executing the interdictions. 

He emphasized the potential impact of the illicit pharmaceuticals on public health and national security, noting that unregulated pharmaceutical products pose severe risks, including drug addiction, compromised treatment outcomes, and the facilitation of organized criminal activities that threaten community safety and national stability.

Meanwhile, the NCS has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s security and economic transformation agenda. 

The Service vowed to deploy all resources at its disposal to ensure that Nigeria’s borders remain secure against those who would compromise national health security and economic prosperity for criminal gain. 

The Comptroller-General also served notice to all criminal networks attempting to use Nigeria’s borders for illicit activities, stating that the NCS maintains zero tolerance for smuggling operations and will pursue the full weight of the law against all perpetrators.

Customs Foils Smuggling Attempt Worth ₦20.5bn is first published on The Whistler Newspaper