The Tin Can Island Customs Command under Comptroller Dera Nnadi has made yet another history, as the Command hits its first ever N1Trillion revenue collection in history.
The Command also intercepted 18 containers of banned illicit drugs worth over N7bn .
Addressing the media and other stakeholders among them sister security agencies comprising of NDLEA, NAFDAC, NPF and others , he said the NCS with the mandate of the CGC , Adewale Adeniyi is ever determined to carry out its functions in collaboration with sister security agencies to tame the activities of economic saboteurs from bringing in dangerous imports into the country.
“I sincerely welcome you all to this press briefing which offers us the opportunity to render our stewardship over the last few months. In the last two months since our last engagement with the media, the Command has sustained its effort in ensuring we meet our obligations to the Comptroller General of Customs and his management team towards meeting the Service objectives. These objectives which form our key performance indicators are outlined in the CGC’s policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.
“In line with the policy thrust, TCIP Command tagged the year 2024 as; “The Year of the Stakeholders” which further align with the theme for the International Customs Day, “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”.
“Distinguished members of the press, we choose a new slogan every week as our motivating mantra in aid of our work. Our slogan for the week is Reform or Regret. We choose this slogan because we believe that our stakeholders must align with the vision of a new Nigeria.
“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 N1,046,496,593,103.60.
“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.
“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 16 containers of 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 containers were discharged from May 17 to October 23, 2024 and contained imported drugs
as 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)”, he said
Others are 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 seized goods includes Ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, Biomal Artesunate Injection.
While the vessels used for the of importations are
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.
The countries of origin bof the items ,India (Barcadin, Diclofenac Tablets, Benzhexol, CSP with Codeine). United Kingdom (BiomalArtesunate Injection). Canada (Cannabis Indica).
Comptroller Nnadi said,
“Recall that on October 2, 2024, the Tin Can 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. Tramadol – 920 cartons in 2x40FT containers worth N23bn. Codeine – 1,894,600 bottles in 11x40FT containers worth N13bn and
Cannabis Indica- 341kg in 3X40 containers worth N682m.
“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”, Nnadi warned
