OFFICIALS of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been commended for rejecting a bribe of $412,000 – about N150 million – offered by owners of a confiscated container-full of illegal drugs.
The commendation was given by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, during a press conference in Lagos on Friday.
Ali, who was represented at the press conference by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Austin Chidi, told journalists that another 13 containers of the banned drugs, believed to be Tramadol, were confiscated at Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos on Friday. The items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,13 billion.
I commend officers of the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service for their rejection of $412,000 (₦150m) bribe.
$ offered by an importer who wanted officers to clear container of Tramadol, a prohibited pharmaceutical product.
Nigerians are proud of all of you. God bless you. pic.twitter.com/FbOReb0qfL— Abayomi Shogunle, 𝘧𝘴𝘪 (@YomiShogunle) November 23, 2018
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Friday’s seizure came barely 24 hours after the customs said it impounded 40 containers with Tramadol with Duty Paid Value of N7.3 billion at Apapa port.
According to him, 10 of the 40ft containers contained tramadol, Ciprofloxacin capsules, Diclofenac Sodium tablets, Soffeathe, IV Cannula, Sidenfil Citrate tablets; one 40ft container had bleaching soaps; and two other containers of second-hand clothes.
“It is pertinent to note that two of the containers had earlier been handed over to National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on October 11 and October 20, 2018,” the Customs boss said.
“A container of tramadol was also handed over to National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on November 2, 2018.
“The service wishes to reiterate its concern for the health and security of Nigerians and would better imagine the devastating effect on the lives of our youths if this quantity of unwholesome drugs had found their way into the markets.
“Such goods could not only lead to increased insecurity but will impact negative on health of our youths.
“We want to re-assure the nation that Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will not renege on its mandate irrespective of its circumstances.”
(NAN)