Onne Port Customs Command Seizes Over N46 Billion Worth of Illicit Goods Amidst State of Emergency
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 2 Command at Onne, under the stewardship of Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, has achieved another significant milestone in its ongoing fight against smuggling and illegal trade.
In a press briefing held today, Babandede announced the seizure of 21 containers filled with contraband substances and unauthorised goods, including dangerous drugs and donkey skin, with a total duty-paid value (DPV) of N46,399,119,810.
During the briefing, Babandede recalled that on 4 September 2024, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, had visited Onne Port to highlight previous large-scale seizures made by the Area 2 Command.
The consistent apprehension of illicit goods led the Customs to declare a three-month state of emergency, granting the Command the authority to thoroughly inspect all suspected containers.
This measure, according to Babandede, is designed to ensure that no illegal substances slip through the port undetected.
In alignment with the NCS’s commitment to bolstering public health and security, Babandede revealed the latest seizure breakdown, involving 20 forty-foot containers and one twenty-foot container. The intercepted goods included:
2,624,053 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 7,530,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac (50mg), 3,500,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol (5mg), 112,500 fake multi-mineral supplement tablets, 28 drums of diphenhydramine hydrochloride (25kg each) and 2,100 pieces of donkey skin.
Other seizures include:
27,048,900 tablets of Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol/Tamolx (225mg), 7,665,000 counterfeit gonorrhoea antibiotics (200ml, no NAFDAC number), 15,600,000 fake chlorphenamine tablets (4mg), 33,840,000 counterfeit Lemotil Loperamide tablets (2mg) and 480,000 fake Stapsiril tablets.
The Command also uncovered various concealment tools, such as 19,430 chilly cutters, 20,238 sanitary fittings, and 3,388 waste connectors.
“The implementation of this state of emergency by the Comptroller General of Customs has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security,” Babandede affirmed.
In total, the Command has seized 63 containers this year alone, including 844 rifles, 112,500 rounds of live ammunition, over 6 million bottles of 100ml codeine syrup, and more than 56 million Tramadol tablets.
These contraband items violate various customs regulations, including sections under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Common External Tariff guidelines (2022-2026). The total DPV of seizures for the year has reached N130,562,660,407.
The Area 2 Command’s efforts extend beyond anti-smuggling operations to robust trade facilitation.
Through the World Customs Organisation’s Time Release Study (TRS) tool, the Command has streamlined processing times and maximised revenue collection.
According to Babandede, the Command has generated a remarkable N550,431,559,598.41 as of this morning, which is 89% of the annual target of N618 billion.
Babandede highlighted the Command’s role in boosting Nigeria’s export economy.
A total of 2,436,408.33 metric tonnes of goods with a free-on-board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87 has been processed through Onne Port this year, contributing to economic growth and promoting a favourable exchange rate for the naira.
Babandede expressed his appreciation for the media’s role in promoting compliance and public awareness regarding trade laws.
He commended the press for its support in achieving the Command’s mission to maintain the security and economic stability of Nigeria.
