Customs impounds N395.1m prohibited drugs in Rivers

The Area Two Command of Nigerian Customs Service, Onne, Rivers State, yesterday said it impounded N395, 125, 912.00 worth of banned pharmaceuticals.The Controller of the Command, Abubakar Bashir, who made this known while briefing newsmen on the achievement of the command said the contraband pharmaceuticals were contained in nine 40 feet containers.

The  fake pharmaceuticals products include; Tramadol, Chakapain, Tramaking and other anti malaria and analgesic drugs. The drugs were declared as pressure reducing and PVC valves.

Bashir, told journalists after  inspecting the seized containers at Onne Port, yesterday, that  the “9 by 40” containers carrying 8,245 cartons of fake drugs was the highest volume  of fake pharmaceuticals the command has  ever seized.  

Bashir noted that the pharmaceuticals were imported into the country from China and India, adding that the command is particularly delighted by the seizure due to its harmful effect on the  youths and the current national challenge of substance abuse. 

The Comptroller further disclosed that within the first quarter of 2018, the command raked in N11.4 billion out of N117.8 billion revenue target set for it by the Federal Government,  noting that the command hopes to  increase the  set target to N120 billion. He said that the Command has resolved to improve on the achievements of 2017 by displaying greater diligence in all its activities for 2018.Bashir added that the Command made 26 seizures with a duty paid value of N470 billion in 2017.