Customs boss, Bashir Adeniyi declares State of Emergency at Onne sea port

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, has declared a State of Emergency at the Onne Port in Rivers State, over continuous importation of illicit goods.

The Customs boss also disclosed the seizure of illicit goods, including drugs and military camouflage worth N31.2billion by the Area 2 Command of the Service, Onne Port.

The comptroller general disclosed on Wednesday, at the Onne sea port in Eleme, while displaying the seized illegal smuggled goods confiscated in 12 40-feet containers.

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He said the seizures were made in strict compliance with customs laws, particularly concerning concealment, false declaration, and the importation of prohibited items.

Adeniyi who expressed delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne, he said the repeated incidence of smuggling of illicit goods through the Port, is of grave concern to the nation’s security.

He recalled that the policy thrust of President Bola Tinubu supports the re-energising of the business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow the capacity for exports.

The CGC explained that customs emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speaks to trade facilitation and economic development, expressing regret that criminal clements in the international supply chain are exploiting the nation’s pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches.

Adeniyi further regretted that few months after declaring state of emergency in Onne Port, the area command has seized another huge illegal drugs and other goods.

Analysing the seized goods, the CGC said “We are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are 12 containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination.

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Seizures on display are “One 40-feet container containing 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage rain boots and 67,320 pairs of various rubber footwear, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N923,040,000. Three 40-feet containers containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, worth N4,716,573,846.

“Three 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, worth N17,432,506,000.

“Five 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles s of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90.”

He said “These interceptions bring the total Duty Paid Value of the 12 seized containers to a staggering N3I,200,688,142. This operation is not only a testament to the Area 2 Command’s vigilance but also to the effectiveness of our intelligence network and the critical partnerships we maintain with other security agencies”.

Noting that the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, Adeniyi stressed that “The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens”.

He warned that the Nigeria Customs Service will no longer tolerate the illicit act, saying that in collaboration with other security agencies, will bring the full weight of the law upon anyone found complicit in the crimes against the nation.

Calling on patriotic citizens to assist in tackling the incidence, the NCS boss said “we are implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port. For the next three months, we will be conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers. If the owners do not come forward for examination, we will open these containers to verify their contents.”

He said the emergency protocol is temporary but necessary measure to clean up the port and restore its integrity.

Adeniyi also revealed that the illegal pharmaceuticals, including cough syrup and tramadol, will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in accordance with the NCS Memorandum of Understanding, while the other items will be dealt with as per the legal frameworks governing our activities.

He however, assured that the Nigeria Customs Service, under his leadership, will leave no stone unturned in their mission to protect the health and safety of Nigerians, adding that “We will strengthen our intelligence networks, enhance our inter-agency collaborations, and ensure that those who seek to harm our nation face the full weight of the law”.