Customs boss raises alarm over 40 containers of tramadol from India …Scores Apapa Command high on outstanding performance, seizure of tramadol …Command rakes in N343.88bn

Customs boss raises alarm over 40 containers of tramadol from India

.Scores Apapa Command high on outstanding performance, seizure of tramadol

.Command rakes in N343.88bn

By Udeme Clement

From Left: Customs National PRO, CAC of Apapa Command, CGC Ali and top officers during the press conference at Apapa Command, Lagos:

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Ali Hameed has raised alarm over the seizure of 40 containers (40 X 40feet), mostly from India, laden with Tramadol and other pharmaceutical products, with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of over N7.3billion imported into Nigeria without compliance with government fiscal policy, but intercepted by Apapa Area Command through intelligence.

CGC Ali commended the Customs Area Controller, CAC, of Apapa Command, Comptroller Abubakar Bashir, for his hard work, resilience and remarkable performance recorded by his Command in trade facilitation, revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations in the last three months.

CGC Ali who expressed great pleasure on the leadership prowess of the current CAC of Apapa Customs, addressed newsmen on the massive seizure of Tramadol by himself.

His words, “The Service achieved this feat through intelligence gathering within the system, as well as information from National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control, NAFDAC , which is a strong ally of Customs

I commend the Director General of NAFDAC and her management team for their collaboration in the attainment of this feat.”

The CGC frowned, “In their criminal desperation, importers of these items offered bribes to the tune of N150million to my officers to effect the release of just one container, with promises of even bigger sums to follow in the event that, their first attempt succeeds. The officers played along and eventually arrested three suspects with the money”.

He exclaimed, “It is worrisome to note that these are Nigerians who are ready to make money at the expense of human lives, by bringing in such quantity of drugs that have grave consequences on the health and national security”.

The Customs boss emphasized, “We are all aware of the dangers that deliberate non-compliance to import and export procedures pose to our nation, as importers bring in all manner of items, which put the security and health of the nation at great risk. Terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements get hold of these items, such as controlled drugs to perpetuate their heinous activities”.

He pointed out, “It is in line with the determination to fight this ugly trend that the Apapa Command intercepted the 40x40feet containers, mostly from India.

“The Service is not only making efforts to ensure maximum revenue collection but also to safeguard the security and well-being of the citizenry.”

He stressed, “Let me assure you that the on-going investigation would be thorough, in order to bring all those remotely connected to justice”

In the same vein, Apapa Customs rakes in N343.88billion revenue (approximately N343.9billion), from January to October 2018, into the coffers of the Federal Government.

Segment-One report:

This is segment-One report on Apapa Customs. Watch out for another story on how the same Command intercepted two aircrafts, other prohibited items on our weekend News!