Hyacinth Chinweuba
Nigeria Customs Service of the TinCan Island Port Command said it has seized two containers of Tramadol imported from India.
Comptroller Musa M.B.A, during a hand-over ceremony to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) disclosed that the products were declared as electrical static converters and ciprofloxacin in a bid to evade arrest.
The command controller expressed concern that despite efforts to discourage importation of illicit drugs, some unrepentant elements still engage in such practice.
“1×40 and 1×20 containers of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg which were declared electrical static converters and ciprofloxacin. We are collaborating with NAFDAC and NDLEA on this seizure.”
Further he added that one suspect in connection with the containers was arrested by the Command, while the search for those behind the import continues. The suspect is being detained at the enforcement unit of the command.
“We have gotten a suspect who is the agent and through him, we will get the importer and ensure they are prosecuted and thereafter the consignment will be destroyed. Those who are involved in this thing should stop because it is dangerous to our health. It is addictive and it can kill. We have to stand out against this. Just as the Federal Government has banned codeine, we expect this will happen to this drug quickly”.
“The import is coming from India and for export only. I think the government can explore the diplomatic way with the Indian Government by trying to see how we can prevent the importation of this type of dangerous drugs into the country”.
He disclosed that three other containers of e-waste regarded as unhealthy to the environment were also intercepted. Also seized were five containers of second-hand clothes and one container of used tyres which duty paid value was put at N124m.
In the same vein, the Command is committed to the transformation of revenue collection and reporting system with the implementation of NICIS II with additional functionality which is an upgrade of the NICIS I. And as part of the specific gains with the implementation, the command has biometric access system and has further introduced a “one stop shop “which will enable treatment of declarations with valuations, classification and other related clearance issues/queries. He said
Comptroller Musa disclosed that there was an improvement in the revenue generation from the Command during the first quarter of this year, January-April, 2018. As the Command generated the sum of N104.5b in the first quarter of this year, 2018 as against the sum of N82.154b during the same period last year, an improvement in the figure of about N22.68b.
Musa added that effort has been intensified under the federal government presidential initiative on ease of doing business to improve the performance rating, the command has made some gains in the 48hours cargo clearance time, some categories of goods are being cleared from customs zone with 6hours, according to the area comptroller fast track facilities-provided to compliment traders/importers, dispute resolution committee working as scheduled, help desk for enquiries and operational support, time release studies and securing of government revenue in disputed area through the use of bank guarantee/indemnity as provided in the import guideline.