The Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) has destroyed about 58 containers of banned Tramadol and other illicit
drugs worth N14.7 billion intercepted by its operatives at various Customs
formation in Lagos, and other parts of the country.
(NCS) has destroyed about 58 containers of banned Tramadol and other illicit
drugs worth N14.7 billion intercepted by its operatives at various Customs
formation in Lagos, and other parts of the country.
Speaking at the destruction
exercise at the Sagamu dumpsite, Ogun State, the Comptroller-General of
Customs, Hameed Ali, condemned the activities of smugglers who import banned
drugs and other harmful substances into Nigeria.
exercise at the Sagamu dumpsite, Ogun State, the Comptroller-General of
Customs, Hameed Ali, condemned the activities of smugglers who import banned
drugs and other harmful substances into Nigeria.
Ali, who was represented by the
Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Zone ‘A’, Kaycee Ekekezie, decried the harm the seized
drugs would have caused if allowed into circulation, noting that such monies
could have been channeled into other productive activities are now wasted.
Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Zone ‘A’, Kaycee Ekekezie, decried the harm the seized
drugs would have caused if allowed into circulation, noting that such monies
could have been channeled into other productive activities are now wasted.
“People should never see
smuggling as a trade; it is a crime. The menace of such drugs in our society
cannot be underestimated, having caused a huge negative impact both on our
economy as a whole and the depreciation and danger to human life,” he said.
smuggling as a trade; it is a crime. The menace of such drugs in our society
cannot be underestimated, having caused a huge negative impact both on our
economy as a whole and the depreciation and danger to human life,” he said.
Ali, while appealing to
Nigerians to join hands with the Service to fight the menace of drug abuse,
urged importers to take advantage of the Customs portal, to ascertain the
status of what they want to import to guide against the importation of
restricted items into the country.
Nigerians to join hands with the Service to fight the menace of drug abuse,
urged importers to take advantage of the Customs portal, to ascertain the
status of what they want to import to guide against the importation of
restricted items into the country.
The destruction was jointly
carried out by the NCS, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other
related agencies.
carried out by the NCS, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other
related agencies.
Chairman of the joint
committee, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG), in charge of Enforcement,
Investigation and Inspection, Aminu Dahiru, noted that most of the violent
crimes like robbery, kidnapping, banditry, and other associated crimes are
linked to the consumption of illicit drugs.
committee, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG), in charge of Enforcement,
Investigation and Inspection, Aminu Dahiru, noted that most of the violent
crimes like robbery, kidnapping, banditry, and other associated crimes are
linked to the consumption of illicit drugs.
He said similar destruction
would be carried out in other Customs Zones in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and
Bauchi.
would be carried out in other Customs Zones in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and
Bauchi.
“These drugs to be destroyed
here today constitute just a meager number among the numerous seizures already
handed over to NAFDAC and NDLEA for destruction in the past. These quantities
of seizures recorded by officers have not been without some cost on a series of
threats, attacks, maiming and even killing of officers.
here today constitute just a meager number among the numerous seizures already
handed over to NAFDAC and NDLEA for destruction in the past. These quantities
of seizures recorded by officers have not been without some cost on a series of
threats, attacks, maiming and even killing of officers.
“Even as we are here, some of
our anti-smuggling officers have been receiving threats for their exploits.
Smugglers of these drugs are unhappy because we stopped them from making money
through destruction of lives,” he said.
our anti-smuggling officers have been receiving threats for their exploits.
Smugglers of these drugs are unhappy because we stopped them from making money
through destruction of lives,” he said.
Director, Registration &
Regulatory Affairs of NAFDAC, Monica Eimunjeze, commended the Customs effort in
preventing the smuggling of hard drugs into Nigeria even as she advocated
collaboration between security agencies and the public to rid the society of
hard drugs.
Regulatory Affairs of NAFDAC, Monica Eimunjeze, commended the Customs effort in
preventing the smuggling of hard drugs into Nigeria even as she advocated
collaboration between security agencies and the public to rid the society of
hard drugs.
She explained that the approved
milligram for Tramadol is 50mg and 100mg while higher milligrams of above 100
are prohibited.
milligram for Tramadol is 50mg and 100mg while higher milligrams of above 100
are prohibited.
“We have something to do in
controlling the use of this Tramadol in our society. See billions of Naira
going down the drain, money that would have been used to build our country.
This event today speaks to our hearts, and we say no to bringing of hard drugs;
we say no to the importation of substandard drugs, and we say no to destroyed
society,” she said.
controlling the use of this Tramadol in our society. See billions of Naira
going down the drain, money that would have been used to build our country.
This event today speaks to our hearts, and we say no to bringing of hard drugs;
we say no to the importation of substandard drugs, and we say no to destroyed
society,” she said.
Guardian.
