Tuesday, August 12, 2025 - The Nigeria Customs Service on Monday said it intercepted 16 containers carrying contrabands, including arms and expired pharmaceuticals, among others. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this while showcasing the seized containers to journalists in Apapa.
He explained that the importation of the containers violates
laws and threatens the peace and security of the country. “Today, it gives me
pleasure to announce the seizure of 16 containers of goods whose importation
violates our laws and threatens our collective peace and security. The duty
paid value of all these seizures is more than N10bn,” Adeniyi said.
Giving details of the seizures, Adeniyi explained that on
receipt of credible information, a 40ft container with registration number,
MRSU6407089, was jointly examined by officers of the NCS and National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency.
Adeniyi added that initially, the container was adjudged
clean, but a secondary search by the two agencies revealed the concealment of
202 cans of Colorado loud, that is, Canadian drugs.
“Each of the cans weighs 500 grams, and the total seizure
involved is 101 kilograms. However, the intel available to us suggests that it
is not only about drugs inside the container.
Acting on this advice, the CAC was directed to deploy
scanners and subject these containers to scanning.
“And when this was done, arms and ammunition were discovered
inside the container. Two pump-action rifles and 25 cartridges of ammunition
were discovered. Also discovered was one Smith & Wesson pistol with 55
rounds of ammunition, one blank, and several accessories,” he added
He mentioned that other seizures include seven containers of
expired drugs and prohibited medications, three containers of expired food
items, particularly margarine, and three containers of absolutely prohibited
used clothing.
The CGC highlighted that over the weekend, the service also
launched an operation where a 40-foot container was seized. “And it
contained 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry products. Another container,
FBIU5507953, a 40-ft container, also had 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken. Another
interesting seizure has to do with an importation that has infringed
intellectual property rights,” Adeniyi stated.
He reiterated that the container had 305 cartons of
toothpastes that were concealed with beads and a Jalabiya dress. He pointed out
that this particular seizure also underscores what the NCS does with other
agencies of government regarding the enforcement of branch rules.
“It was a case of infringement of a brand owned by a
Nigerian company.
Because these products were also not registered by the
National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, in addition to
the brand infringement, they are subject to seizure. Two other containers of
expired chest and lung tablets without NAFDAC registration number were also
seized,” he added.
He said the service also intercepted two 40-foot containers
carrying codeine. “These two containers have also been seized. And the
information that we had on these containers is linking the owners to those of
the previous ones that we have made,” Adeniyi said.
He maintained that the information that the service is
getting is helping to determine the link between the importers of the previous
ones. He announced that five arrests have been made in connection with the
seizures.
“A total of five arrests have been made. Out of the five,
three have been charged, and they have appeared in court. And they are
presently remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending the hearing of the substantive case
sometime next month,” Adeniyi emphasised.
He vowed that the service would work with both local and
international partners and customs administrations all over the world, using
the instrument of customs-to-customs cooperation to identify those who are
behind these operations. “And ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping
ground for them,” he concluded.
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