The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ has intercepted 113 exotic vehicles worth over N1. 3 billion.
The Zonal Controller, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed, said at a press conference at the Headquarters in Ikeja that from February 6 to April 16, over 23 trailers of rice, 600 cartons of codeine syrup, 1,000 sachets of tramadol and other contraband goods were also seized by the zone.
Mohammed said: “ A total of 113 vehicles were intercepted during the period under review. They are all exotic vehicles and some were bulletproof cars. We have a 2019 Range Rover Autobiography amongst the seized vehicle.
“ 53 of the vehicles have been impounded pending when their owners can produce documents to prove they were not smuggled through the land borders. The other 60 vehicles are outright seizures. While some were brought from the bushes, others were found in the town. “
He further disclosed that some of the prohibited pharmaceutical products that were seized had no NAFDAC registration numbers.
Calling on all well-meaning members of the public to partner with NCS to put an end to the importation of substandard and prohibited drugs, he said, “ The 398 cartons of Really Extra Diclofenac had no NAFDAC number, the 49 cartons of paracetamol injection also did not have NAFDAC registration number.
“ We know that the government frowns at the importation of Tramadol and codeine due to the abuse. Many of our youths and even the elderly have become victims of drug abuse. At this point, I would want to recommend that we start dealing with the problem from the root.
“ Do you know that those who import and sell this prohibited drugs have a new strategy, the packaging has changed. The 1,000 sachets of Tramadol was not in a pack, but in a very attractive sachet that will be difficult for anyone to recognise at first sight. it was even packed in a bag.
“ We all need to stand up for ourselves. If we stop patronising illegal drug outlets, the importers of these dangerous drugs will have no option but to stop the importation. Let people also give us information, we will act on such information.”
He stated that some of the seized bags of rice were concealed in a branded cement silo, while others were concealed using packs of soft drinks and disposable cups.
