In furtherance of his zero tolerance for smuggling and non-compliance to to laid down trade/operational procedures, the Customs Area Controller of the Seme Customs Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, mni, has impounded huge pharmaceutical items and cannabis along the border outposts.

Briefing newsmen on the development, the CAC narrated how his men on regular patrol and surveillance beat the smugglers at their game while enforcing the nation’s anti-smuggling laws along Abidjan Lagos Corridor (ALCO) in line with the ECOWAS protocols on the free movement of goods and persons:

“On the 9th of May 2023 at about 0830hrs, officers and men of Seme Command of Nigeria Customs Service while conducting stop and search along Abidjan Lagos Corridor intercepted a truck with registration number GL 6663 GH belonging to one of the major conglomerates concealed with some cartons of pharmaceutical products.

“The truck was taken to the station at Seme for proper examination and upon the conduct of the examination, the following unregistered pharmaceutical products were discovered:

The CAC displays some of the impounded items

i.MORPHINE SULFATE 100ml x 1076 bottles
ii.AMODIAQUINE SUSPENSION 60ml x 94 bottles
iii.VERMOX 500mg x 2970 packages x 1 sachet x 1 tablet.
iv.MEPACRINE TABLETS 100mg x 390 packets x 1000 tablets
v.CLOFENAC SR 100mg x 298 packets x 10 sachets x 10 tablets
vi.LOSARTAIL POTASSIUM 50mg x 1485 packages x 2 sachets x 28 tablets
vii.VIREST 400 ACICLOVIR tablets. B.P 400mg x 499 packages x 5 sachets x 5 tablets.

“The seized unregistered pharmaceutical products have a Duty Paid Value of Twenty-Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira (N27, 861, 538.00) only”.

“This seizure contravened both Nigeria Customs Service banning the importation of pharmaceutical products through the land border without approval and further contravening NAFDAC laws as they do not have NAFDAC registration numbers. Furthermore, five out of the seven seized pharmaceutical products have expired”.

“The Command and indeed every Nigerian is worried about this particular seizure considering the dangerous use of morphine which is a derivative of opium. This drug can be deployed for illicit use to aid criminals”.

“Let me reiterate our commitment to fight smuggling under any guise and also states that those trying our resolve will continue to meet their water-loo as we remain resolute at ensuring adequate surveillance of our borders.

“While we draw your attention to this development, recall that, on the 21st of April, 2023, the officer of the Command on a routine patrol along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor intercepted a Ford Bus conveying Seven (7) large sacks containing five hundred and fifty-three (553) parcels and four suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure”.

“In line with the dictates of the Nigeria Customs Service in the promotion of inter-agency collaboration and synergy, the CGC Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali Rtd directed that the seized items and two (2) suspects should be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation”.

“To this end, the 553 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and two (2) suspects are today being handed over to NDLEA. Two (2) other suspects had earlier been handed over to the sister security agency for necessary action” Nnadi said.

The Seme CAC thanked the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali Rtd and the management of Customs for the encouragement and support to the Command in their work and commended officers and men of Seme Area Command for their doggedness in service.