The Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has made a historic seizure of two containers of Tramadol worth N9,725,000,000, marking its first since its inception.
During a press briefing at the Lekki Deep Sea Port on Wednesday, 6 November 2024,
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Olanrewaju Olumoh, emphasised the dangers of importing illicit drugs.
He stated, “Barely a month ago, the NCS, in collaboration with the NDLEA, successfully intercepted a 1×40ft container of Tramadol. Unfortunately, we are recording another one today. It shows that these bad elements in our society are not ready to learn their lessons. Engaging in the importation of illicit drugs is not only a crime under law but also a crime against humanity, especially given the associated health hazards and social dislocations in the society it engenders. Therefore, it has become imperative for all of us to collaborate with our partners to fight the cankerworm”.
Details of the items imported from Pakistan include; 1×40ft container found to contain 159 cartons of Royal Tramadol 225mg (tablets), 50 cartons of Black Tramarking Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg (tablets), 180 cartons of Tramaking Tramadol 225 mg (tablets).
Another 1×40ft container was found to contain 115 cartons of Trama King 225mg (tablets) and 245 cartons of Trama 225mg (tablets).
At a formal handover ceremony to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the CAC stressed the Service’s commitment to promoting international trade and investment while preventing illicit items from entering the country.
“It should be borne in mind that even though our command here is relatively young in terms of year of establishment, our location is strategic to fight against illicit trade. Hence, in line with the vision of the CGC, we have been very committed to promoting international trade and investment, facilitating legitimate trade and doing everything possible to advance the economic progress of the country, especially by making our seaport in Lekki the maritime hub in the West Africa sub-region”, Olumoh stated.
“However, in performing this role of facilitating a business-friendly environment, we have a critical function to perform in terms of preventing our port and the free zones from becoming a channel through which illicit items enter the country”, the CAC stressed.
While receiving the items, the Commander of Narcotics NDLEA, Lekki Deep Sea Port, Jonah Achema, praised the collaborative efforts of the two agencies in carrying out the operation. He noted that they are not relenting in their efforts to thwart illicit products from entering the country and safeguarding public health.
On the revenue performance of the LFTZ command, the Area Controller also highlighted that the sum of N278,784,955,653 was collected between January to October 2024. “We are passionate about making sure the tempo is maintained and improved on”, he concluded.
