Customs facilitates 2.4m tonnes of export cargo, seizes 22 containers of illicit drugs and donkey skin at Onne Port

The Controller of Area 2 Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Onne Port, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, has stated that 2,436,408.33 metric tonnes of goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87 was processed by the command for export.

Comptroller Mohammed Babandede stated this while on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Onne Port showcasing 21 containers laden with illicit drugs and one container of donkey skin seized by the command.

Babandede said the Duty paid Value of the 21 containers was ₦46,399,119,810 and that of the donkey skin was ₦441,000,000, informing that by the morning of Monday the command had 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 translated to 89% of the annual target of 618 Billion given to the command.

The Controller said that if the drugs had gained access to the public, it would pose a severe threat to public health and safety.

Babandede recalled that over two months ago the command seized 12 containers of illicit drugs through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. He noted that the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr was in Onne Port to showcase the containers.

According to him, “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 illicit drugs, according to the Controller, were: 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 and 15,600,000 tablets of fake 4mg chlorphenamine.

Others were 33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine, 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.

“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,” he said.

On the anti-smuggling activities, Babandede informed that the command, under his 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 and over 56,878,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol /Tramadol/Tamolx.

He said “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.”

The Controller added that in the area of trade facilitation, the Command utilizes World Customs Organization trade facilitation tool, Time Release Study (TRS) to generate maximum revenue. “The result of utilizing this tool within the past months of this year has been unprecedented”