The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, has announced it intercepted 16 containers containing illicit substances, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other prohibited items, discharged between May 17 and October 23, 2024.
The total duty-paid value of the seized goods is estimated at N4 billion.
Customs Area Controller for the Tincan Island Command, Dera Nnadi, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command in Apapa, Lagos, on Thursday.
Nnadi stated that the seizure marked a significant achievement in curbing illegal trade, with the contraband goods intercepted through rigorous enforcement efforts.
In addition, Nnadi announced that between January and November 7, 2024, the command had collected a record N1.046 trillion in revenue, the highest-ever amount for the command.
He attributed this milestone to strong collaboration with stakeholders, which he said played a key role in achieving the remarkable revenue performance.
“We are glad to announce that the command as of today the 7th of November 2024 has generated the sum of N1.046tn,” Nnadi stated.
He also revealed that 13 containers containing illicit drugs would be handed over to officers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Nnadi explained that the containers had been thoroughly inspected by multiple agencies, including the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency among others.
Providing details of the seizures, Nnadi explained that some of the containers were found to contain large shipments of cough syrups, including those with codeine, Barcadin, Broncleer, and DSP, which are used to treat throat and chesty coughs. The syrups were packaged in cartons, each containing 100ml and 200ml bottles.
“Others contain, 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg), 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal, 77 packets of cannabis sativa weighing 38.5kg, 532 packets weighing 265.025kg, and 75 packets weighing 37.5kg, Really Extra brand packed in 50mg, 100 packs per carton,” he explained.
He added that other goods contained in the containers include ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, and Biomal Artesunate Injection among others.
The CAC stated that the drugs originated from countries like India, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Nnadi disclosed that on October 2, 2024, the command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of N682m.
“These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers with registration numbers, MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination,” he said.
Nnadi attributed the command’s achievements to the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, as well as the dedicated officers of the Tincan Island Command.
He further vowed that the command would continue to deploy all available resources and strategies, in partnership with both local and international security and regulatory agencies, to combat the illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country.
