The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne Port in Rivers State has intercepted 22 containers ladened with illicit drugs such as Codeine cough syrup, diclofenac and large quantity of donkey skin.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Ndede disclosed this at a media briefing in Onne on Monday, where he displayed the seized drugs and tablets to journalists.
Ndede noted that it was exactly two months and seven days since the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, visited Onne Port to showcase a series of significant seizures, including arms and ammunition confiscated by officers of the Command.
He stated: “The security concern arising from the series of contraband seizures at this port led to the declaration of a three-month state of emergency, granting the Command authority to scrutinise all suspected containers, regardless of whether their owners are present.”
Comptroller Ndede explained that this proactive approach was intended to ensure no illegal substances evade detection.
He added that: “In line with the Controller General of Customs’ policy of consolidation and collaboration, more successes have been recorded.
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“The Command, working with sister agencies such as the NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine, and NAFDAC, among others, in implementing the state of emergency, has made yet another significant seizure of twenty 40-foot and one 20-foot container filled with illicit drugs that pose a serious threat to public health and safety.
“Additionally, we have a 20-foot container laden with donkey skins.”
The Customs Area 2 Command, Onne Controller provided the breakdown as follows: 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine, 7,530,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac.
Ndede further listed 3,500,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/Tamil, and 7,665,000 tablets of 200mg counterfeit Gonorrhoea Antibiotics without a NAFDAC number, among others.
Continuing, Comptroller Ndede disclosed that “the Duty Paid Value of the 21 containers totals N46,399,199,810, while the Duty Paid Value for the donkey skins is N441,000,000.”
He noted that the seized items were intercepted at the entry point by vigilant officers and that some of the drugs had been concealed under plumbing materials and local grinding tools to avoid detection.
Ndede said these seizures underscore the Command’s unwavering commitment to combatting illicit drugs and ensuring public safety.
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