Customs at Tincan port records outstanding performance
.Seizes N2.7bn contraband
.Expired rice, tramadol, others
By Silas Onuoha
The seized items:
The Tincan Island Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded outstanding performance, as the Command seized 54 containers of prohibited items with a Duty Paid Value, DPV of over N2.7billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Ali Hameed, disclosed this while addressing journalists yesterday in Lagos.
The items displayed by the CGC include 33 containers of rice, one container of rice concealed with spare parts, 11 containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products, two containers of used tyres, one container of used clothes and four containers of refined vegetable oil in retail packs.
CGC Ali commended the effort of the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Tincan Command, Comptroller MBA Musa and his team for the massive seizure.
He said, “I commend officers and men of Tincan Island Port Command for a job well done.
He added, “I am also aware of the Command’s contributions to the Service revenue collection drive. Statistics in my office shows that the Command collected over N286.7billion from January 2019 to date.”
His explanation, “I directed all seaport and Airport Commands to beef up their surveillance and intercept any illicit or prohibited consignment for which attempt for smuggling may be made through these entry points.
CGC Ali and his officers while addressing news men in Lagos:
“In the light of this, we are showcasing the seizure made by Tincan Command. One significant finding about this seizure is that all the rice is expired, or about to expire.”
“Also remarkable is the seizure of tramadol variants and unregistered performance enhancing drugs among the pharmaceutical products.
“Recall that in the past, the Service has raised alarm and drew the attention of the public to the fact that most imported rice are expired. The Service has also in the past highlighted the dangers of the use of tramadol, has similarly seized and kick-started the destruction of over N14billion tramadol recently.
“There is no doubt that those who imported these dangerous items do not wish us well. Imagine they had succeeded in getting the expired rice into the markets for Nigerians to consume.
“The grave consequences of consuming this expired rice and the dreaded tramadol can only be imagined then experienced”.
