Contraband goods tucked in 16 containers worth over N20.5 billion have been seized by personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Area 11 Command in Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The items comprising 11 containers of illicit pharmaceutical drugs concealed within legitimate goods were intercepted by the agency in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, praised NAFDAC for supporting the fight against smuggling in the country, noting that the NCS “maintains steadfast commitment to President Bola Tinubu administration’s policy objectives of securing our borders, protecting public health, and safeguarding national security.”
According to him, by building upon established operational successes, the service has intensified intelligence-led enforcement across all commands, particularly as it has focused on high-risk corridors and ports of entry.
He noted that his agency’s strategic partnerships with NAFDAC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have demonstrably enhanced customs enforcement capabilities.
Mr Adeniyi maintained that, “Pursuant to Section 246 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and in exercise of powers conferred therein, the Port Harcourt 11 Area Command has executed a series of targeted interdictions that underscore our operational effectiveness in protecting Nigerian citizens from the infiltration of prohibited substances.”
“The command has successfully intercepted 16 containers with an aggregate Duty Paid Value of N20.5 billion as calculated in accordance with service valuation protocols,” he stated, revealing that 11 containers were found to contain illicit pharmaceutical products comprising 1,301,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each), 9,300,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac, 12,600,000 tablets of Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol (225mg each), 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol (5mg each), 210,000 tablets of Hyergra (200mg each), 717,360 tablets of Bisoveu, and 2,200,000 tablets of Bassuka (50mg each).
He disclosed that the contraband items were strategically concealed within legitimate consumer goods, including 9,280 pieces of chilly cutters, 118 pieces of ceiling fans, 2,610 pieces of plumbing materials, 2,268 pieces of smart vehicle parts, 97,200 tins of tomato paste, and 700 cartons of cream.
The customs chief praised personnel of the command led by Mr Mohammed Babandede for the seizure, noting that through their vigilance, professionalism and dedication to duty, they successfully executed those complex interdictions, insisting that their actions exemplify the core values of the service and demonstrated its collective commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and citizens.