Tramadol: Customs seize nine containers in Rivers

The Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command in Onne, Rivers State, has confiscated nine 40ft containers loaded with Tramadol with duty paid value of N3,060,000,000.

The seizure is coming some days after 50 containers of the drug were intercepted by the security outfit in Lagos.

Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Augustine Chidi, told journalists in Onne that the seized were discovered following a diligent profiling of the exporter, a native of India, adding that the containers were falsely declared as containing general merchandise goods and PVC ball valves.

He pointed out that the importation of such prohibited items contravened Section 46 of the Customs and Excise Management Act.

“Last week, Nigeria Customs Service announced the seizure of 50 containers in Lagos. This brings the total number of seizures made this month to 59 containers.

“These nine containers were falsely declared as containing PVC ball valves and general merchandise goods. But upon diligent profiling of the exporter in the country of origin, India, there was reasonable suspicion that eventually led to the discovery of the dreaded drugs.

“Already, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, has ordered a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Chidi said.

He expressed regrets that some unscrupulous importers were taking undue advantage of the festive period and the heightened political situation to import Tramadol and other controlled and banned items into the country.

Chidi, however, warned that the security outfit would not relent in its fight against the importation of items that could harm Nigerians.

Also, NCS Controller, Area II Command, Onne, Aliyu Saidu, disclosed that his command would soon take delivery of one of the three scanners being imported into the country.

Saidu explained that the scanner would put an end to issues of concealment by unscrupulous importers and also increase the command’s revenue base.