Customs intercepts ₦10bn illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals, arms, others
…As CGC Adeniyi vows to prioritise deployment of intrusive technology in customs operations to secure ports
Maureen Aguta
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has announced that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), seized 16 containers of contraband with a duty paid value of ₦10 billion.
CGC Adeniyi who spoke at a press conference on Monday, disclosed that the feat was the outcome of NCS renewed onslaught and operations that seeks to enhance Nigeria’s national security.
He disclosed that NCS is going to give added importance and priority to the deployment and use of intrusive technology, particularly scanners to secure Nigerian ports against importation of goods that threaten safety of the citizens.
According to him, the seizures violates Nigeria’s laws and threatens the collective peace and security of the citizens.
He listed the seizures to include a 1×40-footer container number MRSU6407089, saying this container on receipt of intelligence was jointly examined by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“Initially, this container was adjudged clean. But secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of 202 cans of Colorado Loud, that is, Canadian drugs. Each of the cans weighs 500 grammes, and the total seizure involved is 101 kilogrammes.
“That’s about two bags of cement worth of drugs. However, intel available to us suggests that it is not only about drugs inside these containers. Acting on this advice, the CAC was directed to deploy scanners and subject these containers to scanning.
“And when this was done, arms and ammunition were discovered inside the container. Two pump-action rifles and 25 cartridges of ammunition were discovered. Also discovered was one Smith & Wesson pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, one blank, and a number of accessories,” he said
The customs boss disclosed that the container had one Mr. Babatunde Ogidiolu of an address in Lagos as the consignee of these products.
Other seizures include that of seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medicaments, three containers of expired food items, particularly margarine, and three containers of absolutely prohibited used clothing.
CGC Adeniyi further disclosed that the weekend, “we also launched an operation through the customs area where one container, one by 40-footer container, number OERU4243517, was seized.
“And it contained 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry products. Another container, FBIU5507953, a 40-footer container, also had 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken. Another interesting seizure has to do with an importation that has infringed intellectual property rights.”
According to him, it was established that this container, number ZZSU7277511, had 305 cartons of toothpastes that were concealed with beads and Jalabiya dress. He said this particular seizure also underscores what customs does with other agencies of government regarding the enforcement of branch rules. “It was a case of infringement of a brand owned by a Nigerian company,” he said.
He noted that because these products were also not registered by NAFDAC, in addition to the brand infringement, they are subject to seizure. Two other containers of expired chest and lung tablets without NAFDAC registration number were also seized, he added.
CGC Adeniyi revealed that as the Nigeria Customs Service was putting together this press briefing, two containers that they have followed over a period of time from their partners arrived at Nigerian ports yesterday (Sunday).
“And true to the information that we received, these two containers, 40-footer containers, contained codeine. These two containers have also been seized. And the information that we had on these containers is linking the owners to that of the previous ones that we have made,” he said.
He stated that the information that NCS is getting from this will help it to determine the link between the importers of the previous ones. “It will help us to establish the culpability of the importers and of course their agents. The duty paid values of all these seizures is in excess of 10 billion Naira,” he reiterated.
He disclosed that arrests have been made and prosecutions have started. “A total of five arrests have been made. Out of the five, three have been charged and they have appeared in courts.”
“And they are presently remanded in Ikoyi prisons pending the hearing of the substantive case sometime next month.
“Two others are presently on administrative bail and they are waiting for their dates in court. We have creditable intelligence that suggests that all of these criminal elements are all working together,” he said.