Security breaches: Red alert in Onne Port as Customs declares state of emergency … Seizes contraband worth N31 billion
From Chris Eze, Port Harcourt
Following repeated attempts by smugglers to compromise national security through the Onne Port in Rivers State, the Federal Government has declared a state of emergency in the port.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who disclosed this at the Area 2 Customs command, Onne port on Wednesday evening regretted that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting the nation’s pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches through Onne port.
He recalled the recent seizure of a huge cache of arms at the port, stressing that,”Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens”
“Today we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve (12) containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination”
The CG gave a breakdown of the seized items as: One (1) 40 feet container bearing 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage rain boots and 67,320 pairs of various rubber footwear, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N923,040,000,
Three (3) 40 feet containers bearing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3, 150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a duty value of N4, 716, 573, 846.
Others are, three (3) 40 feet containers bearing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24, 480,000 tables of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a duty value of N17, 432,506,000.
The rest are five (5) 40 feet containers bearing 892,400 bottles of 100 ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items with a duty value of N8,128,568,295.90.
According to the CG, the total Duty Paid Value of the 12 seized containers amounts to N31, 200,688,142. He said the operation that led to the seizures is not only a testament to the Area 2 Command’s vigilance, but also to the effectiveness of the custom’s intelligence network and the “critical” partnerships with other security agencies.
He appealed to all citizens to assist the customs in its effort to rid the nation of the activities of smugglers. “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”, the CG pleaded.
He said in furtherance to the state of emergency declared in the port, the custom would be conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers for the next three months, adding that if the owners do not come for examination, the containers would be opened to verify their contents. This he maintained is a temporary, but necessary measure to clean up the port and restore its integrity.
The Custom’s helmsman used the occasion to assure the business community at the port that the measure is not aimed at disrupting lawful trade, but 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”, he said, and warned those who may be tempted to continue the illegal activities that the customs in collaboration with other security agencies would bring the full weight of the law upon them.
The CG said that the illegal pharmaceuticals, including cough syrup and tramadol, would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA while the other items would be dealt with as per the legal frameworks governing the customs activities.
