Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 16 containers carrying contrabands, including arms and expired pharmaceuticals, among others.
NCS Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while inspecting the seized containers before journalists in Apapa, Lagos.
According to him, importation of the containers violates laws and threatens the peace and security of the country.
“Today, it gives me pleasure to announce the seizure of 16 containers of goods whose importation violates our laws and threatens our collective peace and security. The duty paid value of all these seizures is more than N10bn,” Adeniyi said.
Speaking further onthe seizures, the Customs boss explained that on receipt of credible information, a 40ft container with registration number, MRSU6407089, was jointly examined by officers of the NCS and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
He added that initially, the container was cleared, but a secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of 202 cans of Colorado loud, Canadian drugs.
He added, “Each of the cans weighs 500 grams, and the total seizure involved is 101 kilograms. However, the intel available to us suggests that it is not only about drugs inside the container.
“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 several accessories.”
Adeniyi listed other seizures to include seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medications, three containers of expired food items, particularly margarine, and three containers of absolutely prohibited used clothing.
The CGC further disclosed that over the weekend, NCS also launched an operation during which a 40-foot container was seized containing “1,290 sacks of frozen poultry products. Another container, FBIU5507953, a 40-ft container, also had 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken. Another interesting seizure has to do with an importation that has infringed intellectual property rights.”
Adeniyi stressed that the container had 305 cartons of toothpastes that were concealed with beads and a Jalabiya dress. He pointed out that this particular seizure also underscores what the NCS does with other agencies of government regarding the enforcement of branch rules.
He added, “It was a case of infringement of a brand owned by a Nigerian company.
“Because these products were also not registered by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, 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.”
The NCS boss said the service also intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying codeine, noting, “These two containers have also been seized. And the information that we had on these containers is linking the owners to those of the previous ones that we have made.”
He maintained that the information that the service is getting is helping to determine the link between the importers of the previous ones. He announced that five arrests have been made in connection with the seizures.
“A total of five arrests have been made. Out of the five, three have been charged, and they have appeared in court. And they are presently remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending the hearing of the substantive case sometime next month,” Adeniyi stressed.
Adeniyi vowed that NCS would work with both local and international partners and Customs administrations all over the world, using the instrument of customs-to-customs cooperation to identify those who are behind these operations to “ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for them.”
