Customs seizes N23.02bn expired, illicit drugs at Apapa ports, warehouses

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its operatives at the Apapa ports in Lagos have seized several cartons of both expired and illicit drugs, including tramadol, said to have been smuggled or imported through the nation’s seaports.

The drugs were intercepted by the Apapa command of the service and the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), zone A of the service during a special operation.

While the seizure of the Apapa port were intercepted at the Lagos port complex, that of the FOU, zone A were intercepted at warehouses and on transit on the verge of being smuggled out of Lagos.

According to Customs, the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized drugs is put at N23.02 billion as the Apapa command intercepted the fake drugs worth N21.6 billion, the drugs intercepted by the FOU zone A, unit intercepted drugs worth N1.42billion.

Speaking, the Customs Area Controllers (CAC), Apapa command, Compt. Auwal Mohammed, said the seizure was made on Friday March 31, 2023.

“It is pertinent to mention that on Friday, 31 March 2023, we uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of Tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft containers with number, TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 where 143,800,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tonnes (10,386kg) that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at N21.6billion,” Mohammed stated.

Mohammed also disclosed that the contraband imported into the country and seized by the command have a Duty Paid Value (DPV), of N22.09billion.

“Within the period under review, the command made seizures of 14 containers comprising  prohibited items such as vegetable oil, footwear, used clothing, unprocessed wood, and tramadol tablets with a Duty Paid Value of N22.09billion,” Mohammed said.

However, speaking on the seized drugs, the acting Comptroller, FOU, Zone, A, Hussein Ejibunu, said apart from the seized drugs expired, some were also fake and above the threshold of imported content.

Ejibunu, disclosed that the contraband were intercepted at a warehouse while others were seized in commercial vehicles.

“As a part of the results achieved from the reworked strategy; expired, illicit, and other drugs that did not comply with the statutory import requirements worth N1.42billion were intercepted at different times and locations. The drugs are, however, constructively warehoused in 39 x 140ft and 2 x 20ft containers by this unit, and will be handed over to the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for possible destruction,” Ejibunu said.

Ejibunu further disclosed that 11 trucks load of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, over 35,000 litres and bakes of foreign used clothes were intercepted in the month of March.

“6,228 bags of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to 11 trucks load; 35,325 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 279 Cartons of foreign poultry products; 105 parcels of cannabis sativa; two 40ft containers of 883 bales of used clothes and 8 units of foreign used vehicles also known as tokunbo.”

“A total worth of these goods in terms of Duty Paid Value (DPV) stood at N694.4million while five suspects were arrested in connection with some of the goods. While the federal government played its role by imposing trade restrictions in an effort to protect our local companies and farmers from unhealthy competition with foreign firms, the onus lies on its citizens to complement government’s efforts with that of compliance with the Customs’ extant regulations and government’s fiscal policies.

“This can be achieved by making sincere declarations, and being properly guided by the import/export prohibition lists. It is imperative to note that the wisdom behind the government’s protectionist policy is to protect the national economy and safeguard its citizens’ lives and property. Smuggled bales of used clothes expose its users to fungal diseases and other skin diseases like scabies.

“Apart from the effect of smuggled foreign frozen poultry products on the economy, it also affects the health of its consumers. Some of these frozen poultry products are preserved under questionable conditions. This assertion is embedded in some previous laboratory reports by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

“In our efforts to prevent loss of government revenue to duty underpayments that either arose from the undervaluation of imported items or wrong Harmonized System (HS) code classification; the sum of N72.6million was recovered during the period under review.

“These seizures are a reflection of our commitment to duty and non-compromise in the discharge of our functions; aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing importation of prohibited and harmful products from entering our domestic markets,” Ejibunu added.