Customs Onne Seize Large Consignment Of Contraband,Generates Over N550.4Bn

Customs Onne Seize Large Consignment Of Contraband,Generates Over N550.4Bn

By prince Benson Davies

The Nigeria Customs Service Onne Command has made another mind-blowing seizure of twenty 40-foot and one 20-foot containers laden with illicit drugs, which pose a severe threat to public health and safety, as well as one 20-foot container laden with donkey skin.

Speaking to the press on Monday, 11th of November 2024, in the Command Headquarters Onne, CAC Babandede recall exactly two months and Seven days ago, precisely 4th of September this year, when the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi was in Onne Port, where he showcased series of significant seizures made by the diligent Officers of the Area 2 Command

Babandede noted that security concern from the series of seizures of contraband goods made through Onne Port led to the declaration of a three-month state of emergency where the Command has been granted the authority to scrutinize all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.
He said that this proactive approach ensures that no illegal substances evade detection.

He stated that in line with the Comptroller General of Customs Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration, the command, working with sister agencies such as NDLEA, DSS, quarantine, and NAFDAC, among others, in implementing the state of emergency, intercepted the 21 offensive containers.
Babandede gave the breakdown of the content of the containers as follows:
a. 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml ml Syrup Codeine
b. 7,530,000 tablets of 50 mg Really Extra Diclofenac
c. 3,500,000 tablets of 5 mg Trodol Benzhexol
d. 27,048,900 tablets of 225 mg 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 4 mg chlorphenamine
f. 33,840.00 tablets of 2 mg fake Lemotil Loperamine
b. 19,430 pieces of chili cutter used for concealment
e. 20,238 pieces of Sanitary Fittings Tap/toilet seat used for concealment
26.400 tubes of 30 mg 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 of 25 kg each
j. 3,388 pieces of waste connector used for concealment, and
k. 2,100 pieces of donkey skin.

Babandede gave the duty-paid value of the twenty-one containers ad ₦46,399,119,810, while the duty-paid value of the donkey skin is ₦441,000,000.
The Comptroller emphasized that the seizures underscored the command’s unwavering commitment to combating 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.
Still on Anti-smuggling activities, the Command under my 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 100-ml syrup with codeine
Over 56,878,900 tablets of 225 mg Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol/Tamolx
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 the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023″, he stated.

The Comptroller stated that the duty-paid value of the seizures made so far is ₦130,562,660,407.

In the area of Trade facilitation, he Stated that the Command utilizes World Customs Organization trade facilitation tool to generate maximum revenue, which is:
Time Release Study (TRS).
He described the result of utilizing this tool within the past months of this year as unprecedented

In the area of Export, he started that Export play a crucial role in any nation’s economy and Nigeria relaying on it , promotes economic growth, job creation and provides a favorable balance of trade and exchange rate for the naira to the dollar.
According to the CAC, a total of 2,436,408.38 metric tonnes of value of $826,613,o15.87 was processed through the command.

Stating further, Babandede said within the past months of this year, in the area of revenue, the command, as of Monday, the 11th of November 2024, generated a total revenue of five hundred and fifty-one million, five hundred and fifty-nine thousand, five hundred and ninety-eight naira, and forty-one kobo (N550,431,559,598.41), which translates to 89% of the annual target of 618 billion given to the command.

Babandede concluded by thanking the presence of everyone at the briefing, most especially the media, for the critical role they play in sensitization and public enlightenment in order to achieve wilful compliance to trade laws of all imports and exports through the Command.