NCS Intercepts Tramadol, Contraband worth N100m

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri has announced that it intercepted tramadol and other contraband goods with a duty paid value (DPV) of N99.82 million between April and June this year.

The command in a statement revealed that five suspects were arrested in connection to the seizures which included: 45 rolls containing 4,500 sachets of 225mg of royal brand of tramadol, 210 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 18 parcels of Indian Hemp, 19, 725 sachets of dizapam tablet, 98 bales of used clothing, 220 cartons of foreign tomatoes paste, 12 cartons of foreign Johnson soap, 240 pieces of used tyres, 668 pairs of used shoes, among others.

The command stated that majority of the contraband were mostly intercepted along Okada-Benin/Lagos expressway

Head of the command, Comptroller Yusuf Lawal, reiterated that even though smuggling is a global phenomenon it count not be eradicated entirely.

He said all hands must be on the deck so that smuggling could be reduced to its barest minimum.

He commended the resilience and doggedness of his officers and men that brought about this result noting that only God knows what would have happened if the tramadol gets to the wrong hand.

He said: “Imagine that happening at this trying moment in our country, the negative consequences cannot be over-emphasized.

The Comptroller stated that the seizure couldn’t have been possible without the logistics support of the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire management, “as well as the media for your partnership in sensitising and educating the general public on the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy which has led to drastic reduction of smuggling within our zone.

“He further thanked our sister agencies that are always on ground giving us the necessary operational support, most especially the Nigeria Army, Police, DSS among others and look forward to sustaining such relationship that will yield better performance in the remaining half of the year.”

Lawal urged his men to always ensure professionalism and be diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities.

He charged them to sustain the anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue leakages are blocked.

He further encouraged them to keep thwarting the antics of those dare devil smugglers who used different methods of concealment for smuggling.