By Ken Chiwendu
The Nigeria Customs Service says Onne Port in Rivers state is becoming the preferred destination of those who deal on illicit drugs.
The Comptroller General Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press briefing at Onne on Wednesday.
Adeniyi said intelligence of the service revealed a pattern in how containers carrying illicit and dangerous goods target Onne Port. As a result, the Service will be implementing stricter examinations of all suspected containers for the next 3 months.
The custom boss displayed 12 seized 40 feet containers carrying a variety of illicit drugs and paramilitary uniforms.
The seized items include:
1) One 40-feet container containing 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage rain boots with a duty paid value (DPV) of 923,040,000.
2) Three 40-feet containers containing 562,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride , 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol with a DPV of N17,432,000
3) Five 40-feet containers with 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine. 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac. 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol with a DPV of N8,128,568,295.
While the total value of the 12 seized containers is pegged at 31bn, the Comptroller General assured that the Service is committed to protecting the interests of legitimate businessmen while safeguarding the health and safety of Nigerians.
