The Nigeria Customs Service on Monday said it intercepted 16 containers carrying contrabands, including arms and expired pharmaceuticals, among others. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this while showcasing the seized containers to journalists in Apapa.
He explained that the 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.
Giving details of the seizures, Adeniyi 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.
Adeniyi added that initially, the container was adjudged clean, but a secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of 202 cans of Colorado loud, that is, Canadian drugs.
“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,” he added.
He mentioned that other seizures 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 highlighted that over the weekend, the service also launched an operation where a 40-foot container was seized. “And it contained 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 stated.
He reiterated 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.
“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,” he added.
He said the service also intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying codeine. “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,” Adeniyi said.
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 emphasised.
He vowed that the service 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. “And ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for them,” he concluded.
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