The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, said the command has intercepted Tramadol drugs worth N3.55bn from Pakistan and India.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Muhammed Yusuf, also disclosed that the Command generated N74.28 billion from imports between January to October 2023.
According to Yusuf, “During the period under review January-October 2023, the Command collected revenue to the tune of N74.28 billion from Customs duty and other charges. In comparison to the revenue collected same period in 2022 which stood at N60.05 billion.
“This clearly shows a progressive difference of N14.23billion depicting a 23 percent increase in collection. The Command so far has met 76.34% of its annual target. This was made possible as a result of the resilience of officers in ensuring that agents were made to do proper declarations and to adhere strictly to import/export guidelines in tandem with extant laws.”
The Customs Controller, however, disclosed that in anti-smuggling, the command Intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products suspected to be tramadol tablets worth N3.55billion imported into the country.
Yusuf stated further that the shipment was intercepted on the suspicion of exceeding the approved threshold by the Federal Government.
“In the area of anti-smuggling activities. The Command has intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products suspected to be Tramadol tablets. The shipment was intercepted on the suspicion of exceeding the approved threshold by the Federal Government. The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at N3.55billion.”
He, however, urged officers of the command to remain steadfast and focused in the discharge of their duties.
“Finally, I want to use this medium to profoundly thank the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing an enabling environment as regards the renovation of the Command. Let me extend the same gratitude to the officers and men of Murtala Muhammed Airport Command. I also want to urge officers and men of the Command to remain focused and steadfast in discharging their assigned responsibilities.”