Customs intercepts 12 containers of illicit drugs worth N20b in Onne

The Area 2 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Onne in Rivers State, has intercepted 12  40ft containers laden with Codeine, tramadol and other contraband goods at the Onne seaport in Rivers state.
 

Babandede, while displaying the items before newsmen at Onne, yesterday, said the duty paid value of the 12 containers was N20.3 billion.
 
He noted that the arrest was made between November and December 2024.
 
According to him, the seizure was made possible through collaboration with sister security agencies including, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Police, the Department of State Security (DSS) and others.
 
He said the seizure underscores the commitment of the Service to safeguarding public health, ensuring the security of the nation and compliance with Nigeria’s import regulations.
 
The controller added that it also justifies the Customs’ commitment to trade facilitation, transparency, and effective and efficient service delivery.
 
Babandede gave the breakdown of the seizure as 1,721,100 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine, 510,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,100,000 tablets of 225mg Royal apple Tramadol and Tramaking, 3,461 pieces of Sanitary ware Fittings used for concealment, 840 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment and 153 cartons of TVS rubber.
 
The customs controller, who used the medium to highlight other achievements by the Command in 2024, said the command has surpassed the N618 billion revenue target given to them by the Federal Government.
 
In the area of anti-smuggling, he said the Command made a total of 76 container seizures comprising arms, ammunition, illicit medicine, vegetable oil, foot wears, donkey skin, and used clothes among other uncustomed goods used as concealment with a duty-paid value of N150,872,551,207.
 
He applauded the Controller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi for giving special promotion to eight officers of the command for their role in the interception of arms and ammunition in the command, noting that the gesture would bolster officers’ morale for effective service.