Apapa Customs intercepts 7 container loads of expired pharmaceuticals, cutlasses, others
Maureen Aguta
The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased seven container loads of contrabands including cutlass, expired pharmaceuticals, frozen chicken and other prohibited items smuggled into the country by unscrupulous importers.
Speaking when he showcased the contraband items to journalists at the Apapa Port complex today (Friday), the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, said by this catch the importers of the illegal and dangerous items have lost N292.2 million being the estimated duty paid value of the prohibited items.
Olomu said “this type of importation is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violates section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023”.
He said: “On Thursday, 17 July 2024, the command seized 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying 4,129 packages of frozen chicken; 1x40ft container carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceutical,”
Olomu said the cutlass and matches were imported from China, the expired drugs from India and the frozen chicken were from Turkiye
He said the seizures were made following a combination of intelligence and diligent enforcement in ensuring that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination.
He reiterated that the Apapa command would continually sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of the extant laws as they pertain to false declaration, concealment, under declaration and under valuation.
“We are also enforcing the requirements for sister regulatory agencies like National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in the case of food and drugs and strict implementation of the end user certificate rules for products that require it from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA),” he stated.
He however warned against smuggling of prohibited items and restated that the command would keep ensuring that only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through this port either as import or export cargoes.
He said the seizures would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.