As seven containers of expired drugs, three containers of expired food items and three containers of used clothing are seized

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has reiterated that the the ban on stemming of imported pharmaceuticals containers to bonded terminals shall be in force in checkmate breach of security regulations by bonded terminal operators.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos this Monday, the CGC,  the Nigeria Customs Boss disclosed that licensed bonded terminals operate under license provided by the Board of Nigeria Customs Service.

“Our obligation in licensing them is not only to facilitate trade but also ensure that security and compliance regulations are met. Have all the bonded terminals met these obligations? Some of them have, but so many of them have failed to meet these obligations. This is why we are reiterating our position that until further notice we will no longer allow pharmaceutical products to be stemmed into terminals outside our ports. Within the ports, we will undertake operations that are risk-led and that are intelligence-driven to let us discover containers that have illicit products” the CGC said

Announcing recent seizures made at the Apapa Command of the Service he stated that 16 containers of imported items through the Command violated trade laws and threatens national peace and security.

“Let me inform the media of  the seizure of 1×40-footer container number MRSU6407089. This container on receipt of intelligence was jointly examined by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLA. Initially, this container was adjudged clean. But secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of 202 cans of Colorado Loud, that is, Canadian drugs. Each of the cans weighs 500 grams, and the total seizure involved is 101 kilograms”

“Further intelligence led to scanning of the container leading to the discovery of arms and ammunition. Two pump-action rifles and 25 cartridges of ammunition were discovered. Also discovered was one Smith & Wesson pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, one blank and a number of accessories”

“Other seizures listed include seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medicaments, three containers of expired food items, particularly margarine, and three containers of absolutely prohibited used clothing”

Over the weekend, we also launched an operation through the command leading to the seizure of one by 40-footer container, number OERU4243517 containing 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry products. Another container, FBIU5507953, a 40-footer container, with 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken plus an interesting seizure importation that has infringed intellectual property rights.

“Container number ZZSU7277511, had 305 cartons of toothpastes that were concealed with beads and Jalabiya dress. This particular seizure also underscores what customs does with other agencies of government regarding the enforcement of branch rules. It was a case of infringement of a brand owned by a Nigerian company” the CGC said

“The information that we are getting from this will help us to determine the link between the importers of the previous ones. It will help us to establish the culpability of the importers and of course their agents. The duty paid values of all these seizures is in excess of 10 billion Naira”

It is our vow, our solemn promise, that as these people are working together, we will also work with our partners, local and international; NAFDAC, NDLA, other customs administrations all over the world, using the instrumentalities of customs to customs cooperation to identify those who are behind these operations, those who are behind the importations of these drugs into Nigeria, and ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for them, and ensure that we do not allow  criminal elements to threaten our collective peace and security.

“As these criminal elements collaborate across borders, we too will collaborate locally and globally to crush their operations. We will continue to act decisively against smugglers and uphold our  fiscal mandate with zero tolerance for illegal trade” the CGC declared.