Lagos FTZ Customs Command Interceptions Tramadol Worth N9bn
Lagos FTZ Customs Command Interceptions Tramadol Worth N9bn
By Asuquo Nuwak
… Hands over tramadol to NDLEA
…Generates N278,784,955.653 between January to October 2024
The Lagos Free Trade Zone Command of Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted two containers of Tramadol worth N9,725,000,000, since its inception.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Olanrewaju Olumoh disclosed this during a media briefing at the Lekki Deep Sea Port on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, emphasising the dangers of importing illicit drugs.
He further stated that, the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with the NDLEA, successfully intercepted a 1×40ft container of tramadol, barely a month ago.
He said from observation, it shows that these bad elements in the society are not ready to learn their lessons, adding that by engaging in the importation of illicit drugs, is not only a crime under the law but also a crime against humanity, especially given the associated health hazards and social dislocations in the society it engenders.
He consequently urged stakeholders to collaborate with others on the need to fight the cankerworm.
The breakdown of the items imported from Pakistan included a 1×40ft container found to contain 159 cartons of royal tramadol 225mg tablets, 50 cartons of black tramarking tramadol hydrochloride 225mg tablets, 180 cartons of tramaking tramadol 225 mg tablets.
Further breakdown of imported items included 1×40ft container found to contain 115 cartons of trama king 225mg tablets and 245 cartons of trama 225mg tablets.
During the handover ceremony to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Customs Area Controller stressed the service’s commitment to promoting international trade and investment, while preventing illicit items from entering the country.
He said even though the command is relatively young in terms of year of establishment, but the location is strategic to fight against illicit trade.
He said, in line with the vision of the CGC, they have been committed to promoting international trade and investment, facilitating legitimate trade and doing everything possible to advance the economic progress of the country, especially by making seaport in Lekki, the maritime hub in the West Africa sub-region.
In performing this role of facilitating a business-friendly environment, he said they have a critical function to perform, in terms of preventing the port and the free zones from becoming a channel through which illicit items enter the country.
The Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, Lekki Deep Sea Port, Jonah Achema, who received the items, praised the collaborative efforts of the two agencies in carrying out the operation. He noted that they are not relenting in their efforts to thwart illicit products from entering the country and safeguarding public health.
In the area of revenue performance of the LFTZ command, the Customs Area Controller, announced that the sum of N278,784,955,653 was collected between January to October 2024. At the end, he said the command is passionate about making sure that the tempo is maintained and improved on.
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