The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized unregistered pharmaceutical products worth N550, 265,669 while turning down a bribe of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira only) offered the Command by the importer of the illicit drugs, Mr. Boniface Ike.
Customs Area Controller Tin Can Island Port Area Command, AAS Oloyede, while addressing the press at the Command on Monday said the Command received a timely intelligence from its Customs Intelligence Unit on the suspected importation of illicit dangerous drugs (unregistered regulated pharmaceutical products) concealed in two by 40ft containers with Bill of lading Nos 227578945 and 227898171.
According to him, the details on the Bill of Lading of the two containers indicated electrical goods and manual graters but upon physical examination it was discovered that the items laden were illicit dangerous drugs while the electrical and graters served as concealment.
He said: On arrival of the vessel in Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT), the containers (MRSU 592397/0 and MRKU 553432/1) were transferred immediately to the Enforcement Station for 100% physical examination and further investigation.
“The physical examination was conducted on both containers by Enforcement Officers, Customs Intelligence Operatives, Customs Police and Examination officers of the Terminal on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 at about 14:00hours and Wednesday, 23 August 2023 at about 13:00hours, respectively. The following were discovered:
“a) Container No MRSU 592397/0: The details on the Bill of Lading with No 227578945 stated the items laden were One Thousand and Sixteen (1,016) packages containing Electrical Goods Ceiling Fan 36 Jewel (Cooper) and Chilly Cutters (Stainless Steel Plastic) but after examination, the container was found to contain:
“1. Five cartons of Timaking 120 Tapentadol (Tramadol) Hydrochloride Carisoprodol capsule. Each carton contains 50 rolls, each rolls contains five packets, each packet 200 tablets.
“ii. 84 cartons cartons of Gastro Resistant Omeprazole capsule BP 200mg. Each carton contains 50 packets, each packet contains 10 capsules.
“iii. 876 cartons of CSMIX cough syrup containing Codeine (each bottle 100ml). Each carton contains 200 bottles.
“iv. 50 cartons of Manual Grater Machine-70 pieces per carton as means of concealment
v. One carton of Ceiling Fan as a means of concealment.
b) Container No MRKU 553432/1; the details on Bill of Landing with number 227898171 stated the items laden were One Thousand and Twenty-One (1,021) packages containing Electrical Goods Ceiling Fan 36 Jewel (Cooper) and Chilly Cutter (Stainless Steel Plastic) but after examination the container was found to contain:
“1.10 cartons of Super Royal 225 (Tramadol). Each carton contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 10 packets, each packet 10 tablets.
“ii. 105 cartons of Omeprazole Capsule BP 200mg. Each carton contains 50 packets, each packet contains 10 capsules.
“iii. 754 cartons of Barcadin with Codeine (each bottle 100ml). Each carton contains 200 bottles.
iv. 50 cartons of Manual Grater Machine – 70 pieces per carton as means of concealment
v. One carton of Compo Ceiling Fan as means of concealment.”
Oloyede stated that the unregistered’ pharmaceutical products intercepted are regulated products by NAFDAC and did not have the required permits and certificates for importation in which the documents are to ascertain the safety of the products to Nigerians, “hence these illicit dangerous drugs were concealed.
“Unfortunately, the forklift is bad and unable to drop the container for inspection. All the containers h ad tramadol, cough syrup, and codeine, but what they used in concealing wasn’t up to one-third of the container.
“So, it was a case of outright concealment trying to beat the law because they declared ceiling fans and graters. This is also a threat to the health and safety of the nation,” the CAC said.
He disclosed that two suspects have been arrested and are presently at the custody of the Enforcement Unit in accordance with the investigation process of the Service.
However, he informed that one of the suspects in custody, Mr. Boniface Ike accepted that he is the owner (Importer) of the two containers and sought to discuss privately with OC Enforcement, DC GI Aliyu and Team Manager CIU AC H Abubakar.
“I instructed my officers to play along, the request was granted in expectation of receiving vital information from the suspect but to their bewilderment, the suspect pleaded for his freedom from detention and release of the containers while offering gratification to the tune of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira only) (as displayed) equivalent to $54,330 (Fifty-Four Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars only) at the current exchange rate N920. The money was collected and kept in safe custody at the Enforcement Unit to be tendered as exhibit.
“The Nigeria Customs Service will not be a part nefarious acts which will jeopardise the safety and lives of the citizens of our dear country, Nigeria, any fraudulent importer or agent who tries to perpetrate such acts will be prosecuted accordingly,” he stated.
The CAC said the suspects, containers and the exhibit will be handed over to the agencies that are in charge of regulation of such importation as soon as the Service directs and that the Service may decide to prosecute according to the Service Act, Nigeria Customs Service Act (2023).
Still in its intensive surveillance operation on a routine examination carried out at Tin Can Island Container Terminal on Container No. TTNU 804678/9 with declaration lodged on SGD CNo: 70754 of 24/08/2023, the Container was found to contain Frozen Poultry Products with tangerine as the concealment.
The CAC said the persistent fraudulent nature of importers and agents has made the NCS to be more innovative in putting methods and measures to combat smuggling activities and ensure no leakage of revenue to the government and safety of Nigerians.
He used the opportunity to urge freight forwarders to profile their clients, while also stressing that the Command in particular and the Service in general will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at their disposal as well as collaborate with other security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of illicit and unregulated dangerous drugs and substances.