Tunde Bakare
The Onne 2 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized more illicit drugs in a bid to rid the country of illegal drug trafficking and importation.
The Comptroller of the Command, Mohammed Babadede, said the Command working with Sister Agencies such as NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine and NAFDAC among others in implementing the State of emergency, made the significant seizure of twenty 40feet and one 20feet containers laden with illicit drugs, which pose a severe threat to public health and safety.
Also, there is another 20feet container laden with donkey skin.
Oriental News Nigeria reports that on the 4th of September 2024 the Controller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, was in Onne Port where he showcased series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command.
Twelve (12) containers were displayed of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination.
The security concern from the series of seizures of contraband goods made through this port led to the declaration of a three month state of emergency where the Command have been granted the authority to scrutinize all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.
This proactive approach aims to ensure that no illegal substances can evade detection.
The Duty paid Value of the twenty-one containers totals ₦46,399,119,810, while the Duty paid value for the donkey skin is ₦441,000,000
These seizures underscore our unwavering commitment to combatting illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of the public. “The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”
Babandede said, “Still on Anti-smuggling activities, the Command under my stewardship this year, including these seizures on display has now made a total seizure of 63 containers comprising of: 844 Riffles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, Over 6,469,253 bottles of 100ml syrup with codeine
Over 56,878,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol /Tramadol/Tamolx.
Among others for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The Duty Paid Value of the seizures made so far is ₦130,562,660,407
In the area of Trade facilitation, the Command utilizes World Customs Organization trade facilitation tool to generate maximum revenue which is:
Time Release Study (TRS)
The result of utilizing this tool within the past months of this year has been unprecedented.
“In the area of Export, you would agree with me that export play a crucial role in any nation’s economy and Nigeria relaying on it promotes economic growth, job creation and provides favourable balance of trade and exchange rate for the naira to the dollar. In the Command a total of 2,436,408.33 Metric tonnes of goods with a free on board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87 was processed through the Command.
“Still within the past months of this year, In the Area of revenue the Command as at this morning has generated a total revenue of Five hundred and Fifty Billion, Four hundred and Thirty-One Million, Five hundred and Fifty-Nine thousand, Five hundred and Ninety-Eight naira, Forty-One kobo (₦550,431,559,598.41) which translate to 89% of the annual target of 618 Billion given to the Command”, the Comptroller said,
