Nigeria Customs seizes tramadol, clothing, other contraband worth N223m

*The anti-smuggling architecture of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been redesigned to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum, says Malanta Yusuf, Area Controller

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In its continued efforts improving the anti-smuggling architecture redesigned to suppress smuggling while safeguarding the wellbeing of Nigerian consumers in the state, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in Lagos State, has disclosed the seizure of tramadol, used clothing, and other contraband with a Duty Paid Value of N223 million.

Comptroller Malanta Yusuf, Area Controller of Apapa Command of NCS, who disclosed this at a media briefing Thursday, February 25 in Lagos, said the tramadol was concealed with 1,000 cartons of ceramic tiles.

The Apapa Command Area Controller stated: “Barely three weeks after I resumed duty, I came in with strong determination, zeal and commitment to ensure that the confidence and trust bestowed on me by the Controller-General of Customs (CGC) was upheld and not abused.

“In line with that, the Command’s anti-smuggling architecture has been redesigned to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.

“And so, acting on manifest management system, we were able to track and intercept a container with No. SEGU 1793504 manifested as ceramic tiles.

“Upon 100 per cent physical examination to ascertain its true contents, it was found to contain 554 cartons of Tramadol capsules (120mg) concealed with 1000 cartons of ceramic tiles,” he said.

With the support of his management team, they were able to make other interventions like; one 40 feet container loaded with sacks of mosquito coil products but declared as ground paper and packaging paper bag, stated he.

Yusuf also listed other illegal imports to include seven containers loaded with bales of used clothing, shoes, and a container of unregistered pharmaceutical products (989 cartons of mixagrip tabs) wrongfully declared as Winches and gaskets.

According to him, the DPV of the aforementioned seizures are N223, 225,900.

The Apapa Command Area Controller further pointed out that the consignment was an outrightly seized for breaching the provisions of section 46, 47 and 161 of CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004 and provision of schedule 4(17) of the Common External Tariff.

Based on the foregoing, he stated that the Command had launched a preliminary investigation with a view to identifying the consignees for arrest and possible prosecution in connection with this criminal and unlawful importation.

He, nonetheless, assured members of the business community that the Command would increase sensitisation, enlightenment, and robust stakeholders’ engagement for seamless operations in order to educate the general public on the harmful and destructive nature of these illegal imports.

Yusuf added: “The Command under my watch will not tolerate such kind of unlawful behaviour from any importer or declarant.”