Customs intercept banned drugs at Lagos ports, rakes in N35bn in January

Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday said it intercepted four containers laden with banned and controlled drugs while a suspected was arrested in connection with the drug import. Disclosing this to newsmen in Lagos, the Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Musa Jinrin said that the containers with numbers MRSU 3637149, MRKU 6196764, MRSU 3516384 and MRKU 6058282 containing a total of 1,314 cartons of tramadol tablets and other controlled drugs.

He said that the drugs were imported from India by Villa Gold Pharmacy without authorization. Jinrin also said that besides the interception, the Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the drugs was put at N49.9million. He said that the Customs Service intercepted the drugs based on intelligence adding that the agency was also worried about the issue of insecurity being experienced across the country. Speaking further, the Customs boss said that the uncontrolled use of these drugs could further aggravate the already tensed security situation in the country.

These containers were examined and found to contain different pharmaceutical products/drugs which are controlled and regulated from importation into Nigeria. He said : Worried by the present level of insecurity in the country, one wonders what negative impact would have resulted in the aftermath of these drugs finding their way into the larger society. “These could have further aggravate the already tensed situation in the country.” Similarly, the Command also raked in a total of N35.5billion in the month January thereby surpassing 2017 collection of N31billion.