Customs seizes Tramadol disguised as ceramic tiles in Apapa

THE Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS), at the weekend, intercepted 554 cartons of tramadol and 989 cartons of unwholesome pharmaceutical products among other contrabands at the Lagos port. The Duty Paid Value ( DPV) of the drugs, according to the Controller of the command, Mr Malanta Yusuf, was N223.2 million. He said the drugs were traced from India to Port of Lome in Togo before it was finally shipped to Apapa Port, where it was intercepted.

The controller disclosed that the drugs were concealed in ceramic tiles to beat customs checks. He said: “Upon 100 per cent physical examination to ascertain its true contents, it was found to contain 554 cartons of tramadol capsules ( 120 milligrams) concealed with 1,000 cartons of ceramic tiles.

“Furthermore, with the support of my management team, we were able to make the following intervention: one 40ft container loaded with sacks of mosquito coil products, but falsely declared as ground paper and packaging paper bag; seven containers loaded with bales of used clothing and shoes and one container of unregistered pharmaceutical product; with 989 cartons of mixagrip tabs wrongfully declared as Winches and gaskets.”

He added that the consignments had been seized for breaching the provisions of sections 46, 47 and 161 of CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004 ( 17) of the Common External.

“The command has launched a preliminary investigation with a view to identifying the consignees for arrest and possible prosecution in connection with this criminal and unlawful importation,” he said.