Customs Seizes Illicit Goods Worth Over N31bn

By Bon Peters

Illicit goods with a duty-paid value of over N31 billion have been seized at the Area II Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Onne, Rivers State.

The items were imported into the country in 12 forty-foot containers and were intercepted by officials of the agency and comprised 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage rain boots, 67,320 pairs of various rubber footwear, 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items.

At a press briefing in the Rivers State on Wednesday, the Comptroller General of the NCS, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, said the importers were trying to undermine the trade facilitation posture of his administration, but expressed confidence in the ability of the leader of the Command, Mr Mohammed Babandede, and his team to beat them in their games.

“Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to trade facilitation and economic development. It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bothering on National Security breaches,” Mr Adeniyi said.

“The attempt to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port.

“Coming on the heel of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago, it is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts,” he stated.

The customs chief reiterated that recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend at Onne Port which, according to him, is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo importation.

He insisted that the scale and nature of these illegal importations posed a significant threat to the national security and the health of her citizens.

“We are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 11 Command,” he said.

On the dangers such goods would pose to the nation at large, Mr Adeniyi called on all patriotic citizens to assist the customs, saying the fight was not for the organisation alone, stressing that any information shared with the agency would help prevent what he described as a potential catastrophe.

“I want to emphasize that this is not just a customs issue – it is a national security concern that affects every Nigerian.

“We are, therefore, calling on all patriotic citizens to assist us in this crucial endeavour. We need your help in providing intelligence regarding those behind these nefarious acts and their intentions.

“Your information, no matter how small, could be the key to preventing a potential catastrophe. Therefore, effective immediately, we are implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port.

“For the next three months, we will be conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers. If the owners do not come forward for examination, we will open these containers to verify their contents. This is a temporary but necessary measure to clean up the port and restore its integrity,” he averred.

However, he assured legitimate traders that such a measure was not to disrupt their businesses but to create a more secure business environment for their businesses to thrive.

“I want to assure the business community and legitimate importers that this measure is not aimed at disrupting lawful trade.

“Our goal is to create a safer, more secure environment for genuine business activities to thrive. We will work to ensure that lawful shipments are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible during this period,” Mr Adeniyi said.

But he warned those who may be tempted to continue these illegal activities to desist as the customs would collaborate with other security agencies to bring the full weight of the law upon anyone found complicit in these crimes against our nation.