Area 2 Command, Onne Intercepts Hard Substances Worth N46bn
Area 2 Command, Onne Intercepts Hard Substances Worth N46bn
… Records over N550bn As Revenue
By Asuquo Nuwak
In line with the Comptroller-General of Customs Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration, the command working with sister agencies such as NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine and NAFDAC among others in implementing the state of emergency, has made yet another significant seizure of twenty 40feet and one 20feet containers laden with illicit drugs, which pose a severe threat to public health and safety, including one 20feet container laden with donkey skin
Comptroller Mohammed Babandede recalled on 4th September 2024 when the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR was in Onne port, where he show cased series of significant seizures made by diligent officers of Area 2 command.
During the exercise, 12 containers were displayed of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and meticulous physical examination.
According to the report, the security concern from the seizures of contraband goods made though Onne port led to the declaration of a three months state of emergency where the command have been granted the authority to scrutinize all suspected containers, regardless the presence of their owners.
This proactive approach, according to the report, was aimed at ensuring that no illegal substances can evade detection.
The breakdown of the seizures includes
2,624,053 bottles of 100ml cough syrup codeine,
7,530,000 tablets of 50mg really extra diclofenac,
3,500,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol,
27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/ Tramadol/Tamolx,
7,665,000 tablets of 200ml fake/counterfeit Gonorrhea Antibiotics without NAFDAC number, 15,600,000 tablets of fake 4mg chlorphenamine,
33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine.
Further breakdown of the seizures included
19,430 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment,
20,238 pieces of Sanitary Fittings Tap/toilet seat used for concealment,
26,400 tubes of 30mg fake Permethrin cream,
480,000 tablets of fake Stapsiril,
112,500 tablets of fake multi mineral supplement,
28 drums of diphenhydramine Hydrochloride ip of 25kg each,
3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment, and
2,100 pieces of donkey skin.
The Duty paid Value of the twenty-one containers is ₦46,399,119,810, while the Duty paid value for the donkey skin is ₦441,000,000
These seizures, according to the statistics underscore the unwavering commitment to combatting illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of the public.
The Customs Area Controller is quoted as saying that: “The implementation of this state of emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing the operational capabilities and ensuring that the command can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security”.
In the area of anti-smuggling activities, he said the Command under his stewardship this year, has 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.
According to the statistics, the Duty Paid Value of the seizures made so far is ₦130,562,660,407.
In the area of trade facilitation, he stated that the Command utilizes World Customs Organization trade facilitation tool to generate maximum revenue which included
Time Release Study (TRS)
He noted that the result of utilizing this tool within the past months of this year has been unprecedented.
In the area of export, he said it is a well known fact 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.
He announced that 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, within the past months of this year,
In the area of revenue, he said the command as of the time of press conference, has generated a total revenue of ₦550,431,559,598.41 which translate to 89% of the annual target of N618 billion given to the command.
In conclusion, he thanked the media men presence for the critical role the media plays, especially in the area of sensitization and public enlightenment, in order to achieve willful compliance to trade laws of all imports and export through the. command.
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