N46.84 Billion Smuggling Bust at Onne Port
…..Customs Intercepts 21 Containers of Illicit Drugs
Following the state of emergency declaration on all importations through Onne Port in Rivers State by Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, customs officials have made a massive seizure. They intercepted and seized 20 units of 40ft containers laden with uncontrolled and expired drugs, One 20ft container loaded with donkey skin.
Comptroller Mohammed Babandede of the Onne Port Area 2 Command credits effective collaboration with sister agencies for the massive seizures at the port. The Command worked closely with agencies like NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine, and NAFDAC to implement the state of emergency, resulting in the seizure of 20 Containers of Illicit Drugs which pose a severe threat to public health and safety and 1 Container of Donkey Skin.
“The breakdown is as follows:
a. 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine
b. 7,530,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac
c. 3,500,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol
d. 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/ Tramadol/Tamolx
e. 7,665,000 tablets of 200ml fake/counterfeit Gonorrhea Antibiotics without NAFDAC number
e. 15,600,000 tablets of fake 4mg chlorphenamine
f. 33,840,00 tablets of 2mg fake Lemotil Loperamine
b. 19,430 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment
e. 20,238 pieces of Sanitary Fittings Tap/toilet seat used for concealment
f. 26,400 tubes of 30mg fake Permethrin cream
g. 480,000 tablets of fake Stapsiril
h. 112,500 tablets of fake multi mineral supplement
i. 28 drums of diphenhydramine Hydrochloride ip of 25kg each
j. 3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment
k. 2,100 pieces of Donkey Skin.
“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.”
Comptroller Mohammed Babandede has announced a significant milestone in the fight against smuggling at the Onne Port Area 2 Command. This year, under his leadership, the Command has seized 63 containers loaded with prohibited items, including: 844 rifles and 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. These seizures were made possible due to violations of various customs laws and breaches of procedures outlined in the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, and 246 of the 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 the Time Release Study (TRS). The result of utilizing this tool within the past months of this year has been unprecedented,” he said.
In the export sector, the Onne Port Command processed 2.43 million metric tonnes of goods, valued at $826.6 million. Total Revenue Generated was N550.43 billion since January 2024, a 89% increase of the command’s annual target of N618 billion
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