By Sylvanus OBASI
The Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Customs Command Apapa-Lagos, Compt Dera Nnadi has applauded stakeholders for supporting and abiding by the Command’s campaign of voluntary compliance to import regulations, guidelines and extant laws which according to him led to a historic over one trillion Naira revenue generation by the command.
PLATFORM REPORTERS gathered that Comptroller Nnadi gave this commendation recently at the Command during a press briefing where he declared the sum of One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Sixty Kobo (1,046,496,593,103.60) as revenue generated by the command between January and November 7, 2024.
In his words, “We are glad to announce that several of our stakeholders share our vision of voluntary compliance and are supporting our reforms in the Command. With the cooperation of these category of stakeholders and a few others who have been encouraged to comply through our enlightenment programs, we are glad to announce that the Command as at today the 7th of November 2024 has generated the sum of One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Sixty Kobo (1,046,496,593,103.60).
“The Command wishes to celebrate this milestone of collecting over One Trillion Naira as Customs duty being the first time this has been achieved in its history.
“I dedicate this achievement to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and his management team. The Command acknowledges the specific roles of the DCG Tariff and Trade and the DCG ICT /Modernization for their contributions too. Aware that a secured border will translate to more revenue at the seaports, we also appreciate the support of the DCG Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection in enforcing compliance among our stakeholders leading to the increased revenue in the Command”, he stated.
Speaking further, Nnadi hinted on illicit and dangerous drugs seized by the command in their efforts to deal with non-compliant stakeholders.
According to him, “While we celebrate our esteemed stakeholders who embraced our reforms and complied with Customs extant laws and guidelines, those who did not are regretting their loss and the pain of non compliance.
“Today, we are unveiling sixteen (16) significant seizures of illicit substances, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other items seized by the Command.
“All sixteen containers are on display for this press briefing, and I will now provide you with the details of these significant seizures.
The summary of drug importation activities at Tincan Island Port as provided by the command are as follows:
Total Containers: 16 containers were discharged from May 17 to October 23, 2024.
- Drugs Imported:
- Codeine-based products: Numerous shipments of cough syrups with codeine; Barcadin with Codeine, Broncleer with Codeine, and DSP with Codeine for throat and chesty cough (100ml, 200 bottles per carton).
- Tapentadol & Carisoprodol: 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg).
- Benzhexol Tablets: 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal).
- Cannabis Indica: 77 packets (38.5kg), 532 packets (265.025kg), and 75 packets (37.5kg).
- Diclofenac Sodium Tablets: Really Extra brand (50mg, 100 packs per carton).
- Other goods: Ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, BiomalArtesunate Injection.
- Vessels of Importation:
- SpilKartika (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2417W)
- Volana (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2416W, 2421W)
- Maliako (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2421W)
- WadiBani Khalid (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2423W)
- MSC Sweden VI and MSC Katyayni NY427A.
- Countries of Origin:
- India (Barcadin, Diclofenac Tablets, Benzhexol, CSP with Codeine)
- United Kingdom (BiomalArtesunate Injection)
- Canada (Cannabis Indica).
Nnadi also disclosed that the containers were inspected by multiple enforcement agencies including Customs, NDLEA, and NAFDAC.
Recall that on October 2, 2024, the Tincan Island Port Command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of ₦682,050,000.00. These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers Nos: MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination.
“Consequently, we are handing over an additional 13 Containers of Unregistered pharmaceutical products to NAFDAC. Total Duty Paid Value for the 16 containers is approximately N37, 000,000,000.00 (Thirty Seven Billion Naira Only) with details as follows:
- Tramadol – 920 cartons in 2x40FT containers worth N23B
- Codeine – 1,894,600 bottles in 11x40FT containers worth N13B
- Cannabis Indica- 341kg in 3X40 containers worth N682M
He concluded by assuring that “the Command in particular and the Service in general will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at our disposal and in collaboration with local and foreign partner security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country. We are more than committed to deliver on this mandate.
“Aware that yuletide is around the corner, I wish to reassure all our stakeholders that the Command will partner with those who are compliant to ensure there are no delays in their cargo delivery. Similarly, we are also using this opportunity to inform those who will dare our resolve that we are ready to enforce the requirements of our law”, he averred.
