NCS Raises Alarm Over Security Breaches At Onne Port

NCS Raises Alarm Over Security Breaches At Onne Port

·          As Command Intercepts 12 Containers Of Illegal Goods With DPV Of N31.2bn

By Prince Benson Davies

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday expressed concerns over what it described as ‘recurring incidents of security breaches’ in Onne Port in Rivers State, insisting that despite the challenge, the service remains focused on safeguarding national security and attracting traction for trade facilitation at the port.

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stated this while briefing journalists on the seizures of illicit goods at the Area 2 Command, Onne, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
He pointed out that the NCS remains bent on supporting the policy thrust of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in “re-energizing of the business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports.

 “Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to trade facilitation and economic development. It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through the port necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port. Coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago, it is disheartening that the perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts.”
He lamented that recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend in that Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, adding: “The scale and nature of these illegal imports pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens.”
Adeniyi revealed that the seizures include one 40-foot container containing 4,800 pairs of military and paramilitary camouflage rain boots and 67,320 pairs of various rubber footwear with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦923 million.
Others are three x 40-foot containers containing 562,600 bottles of 100-ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a DPV of ₦4.716 billion; three 40-foot containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100-ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items with a DPV of ₦17.432 billion.
Also seized are five 40-foot containers containing 892,400 bottles of 100-ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50 mg Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5 mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of ₦8.128 billion.
“These interceptions bring the total duty paid value of the 12 seized containers to ₦31.200 billion. The operation is a testament to the Area 2 Command’s vigilance the effectiveness of our intelligence network and the critical partnerships we maintain with other security agencies,” he added.
Speaking further, he said that effective immediately, the NCS will implement emergency protocols at Onne Port and conduct thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the next three months.

“These seizures were made in strict compliance with customs laws, particularly concerning concealment, false declaration, and the importation of prohibited items.

“The illegal pharmaceuticals, including cough syrup and tramadol, will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by our Memorandum of Understanding, while the other items will be dealt with as per the legal frameworks governing our activities.
“Going forward, I restate our commitment to continuing this momentum. The Nigeria Customs Service, under my leadership, will leave no stone unturned in our mission to protect the health and safety of Nigerians.

We will strengthen our intelligence networks, enhance our inter-agency collaborations, and ensure that those who seek to harm our nation face the full weight of the law,” he stressed.