By Bon Peters
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area 11 Command, Onne Rivers State, says it has intercepted seven containers of illicit drugs worth over N11 billion and collected over N312 billion in six months of the year 2024.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) for the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, said despite the warning by the Controller General of the agency, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to smugglers, they went on with their activities.
He reaffirmed that his men would continue to be ahead of saboteurs, who want to undermine the importation guidelines and procedures.
“It is with joy that I inform you that the Command has again recorded another significant breakthrough over these unpatriotic people who do not have the interest of our nation at heart as attested by the seizures on display today.”
“In line with the CGC policy thrust of Collaboration and Consolidation, the Command, on receipt of creditable intelligence on some 40-foot containers, sprang into action.
“In collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Onne Port Chapter, these containers were identified, positioned and jointly examined in the presence of sister agencies,” Mr Babandede said.
According to him, seven containers were seized and they contained 1,054,400 bottles of different cough syrup codeine (100ml); 9,100 pieces of chilly cutter; 2,175,000 tablets of Hyergra tablets (200mg); 1,300,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac Pain Relief tablets (50mg).”
He estimated the confiscated items at N11.2 billion, saying it is “a huge loss on the part of those involved despite the fact of a jail term that awaits any of them who will be arrested as a result of further investigation.”
The customs chief disclosed that the seized cough syrup codeine and tablets would be handed over formally to the NDLEA in due course for further investigation.
On revenue generation, the Onne customs boss disclosed that in the first half of 2024, it generated about N312.1 billion, translating to 50.5 per cent of the annual target given to the Command, adding that N48.1 billion was generated in July.
“We are determined to increase our revenue profile and at the same time work tirelessly to protect public health and safety,” he vowed.
