The Demystifying of The Drug Syndicate At Tin-Can Port

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Tin-Can Island Port is the second largest ports in Nigeria. It is next to Apapa port in terms of revenue generation and cargo traffic. In 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service announced a revenue target of N1. 1trillion, for the command; which figure was realized between January and November 7, 2024.

The NCS revenue administration which places the command in the league of the Trillion Naira revenue bracket further explains its runner-up status to the Apapa premier port.

However, one issue that the leadership of the Customs Command has had to deal with over the years is the tackling of trade crime in the port. This has led to massive seizures of different contraband goods, including illicit drugs. But this is not without dire consequences for members of the syndicate believed to be involved in this illicit trade. Those who have often seen the port as smugglers haven or drugs trafficking route have suffered heavy losses considering massive seizures recorded by successive administration.

 Records of Seizures

In June last year, the command intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs, made up of cannabis indica, prohibited codeine and other illicit drugs from Canada and India. It took a lot of intelligence, dedication and patriotism for the officers of the command to uncover the trade crime. The Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Wale Adeniyi,  had told newsmen that the value of the drugs was   N4bn. A breakdown of the seizures included three plastic drums of cannabis indica; 46 bags of cannabis indica; 877 codeine syrup, and 82 cartons of other drugs. The drugs were concealed in   two 40ft containers, while the codeine    in two 40ft containers. Adeniyi had warned those involved in the act. He also warned customs officers against being culpable.   His words, “I promise to apply the heaviest sanction against customs officers found culpable. Beyond revenue loss, some port operators and officers of the service are suspected to be involved in the illegal drug importation. Intelligence indicated that a lot of terminals are involved in the customs’ findings and that there are abuses of procedures involving customs officers.

“The importer of the drugs gave two fake addresses, which raised curiosity, leading to the discovery.”

In October last year, the Command   also recorded seizures of illicit drugs valued at N682m. This time, the former Controller, Dera Nnadi, who is now Assistant Comptroller General of the Service, said three containers   carrying cannabis were discovered by operatives of the Command. The drugs extracted from the three containers were later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) TCIP. Breakdown of the drugs were 77 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 38.5kg,  532 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 265.025kg and   75 packets of Cannabis Indica weighing 37.5kg.

In December, last year, there was yet another seizure of drugs recorded at the Tin Can Port. The seized drugs were worth about N2.2bn. The drugs were destined for MIGFO Bonded Terminal. The seizure was a joint coordination between the Customs and the NDLEA. The drugs were in 44 extra-large bags containing cannabis indica, comprising 1,735 parcels with a total weight of 867.5 kilograms,  six coolers   containing  87 packs of methamphetamine, weighing 78.3 kilograms. The total seizure, according to the Customs amounted to 945.8 kilograms of narcotics with an estimated value of N2.2bn. This was the trend for last year.

 Onyeka on the Saddle

Since assumption of office late last year, Comptroller Frank Onyeka has been strategized on measures to sustain and surpass its revenue obligation, including raising the bar in the security of the nation in terms of ensuring that dangerous imports such as arms and illicit drugs do not leak into the country through the command.  Incidentally, he is not new to safeguarding the port environment. As Officer in-charge of the  Apapa Port Gate,  and also served at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) Gate, Onne Port Area Command, an environment which that attracts only the best.

Onyeka received the Valued Addition Officer Award which was created by the current  Assistant Comptroller General Board; ACG B Imam. On assuming control at Tin-Can Island Command, he pledged not to allow the command to be used as transit point for illicit drug trade. That was his position during the handover of illicit  drugs worth over 8bn   to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in the Port about a week ago.

He had said that the drugs were intercepted due to high level of intelligence gathering by officers in the command, in collaboration with the men of the anti narcotic unit, with Mitchell Ofoyeju as head.

The Controller disclosed that the 2X20FT containers   were falsely declared to contain used cars and used auto spare parts originating from Canada. One of the 20ft container registration number TCNU 194586/1 which was intercepted on the 27 of February , 2025,  was found to contain 128 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 63.75 kilograms with an   estimated street value of   N414,375,000.00.

The second container with registration number MSMU 838666/3 intercepted in December 12, 2024 and was found to contain 97 packets of Crystals Methamphetamine, weighing a total of 78.3 kilograms with an estimated street value of N2billion. Also found in the container are 1,735 packets of Cannabis Indica with a total weight of 867.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of  N5.6bn, making the   a total of  N8.053bn.

At media parley with journalists, he stressed the importance of compliance as basis for trade facilitation.

“You know, I’m coming from the aspect of revenue. So, it is my prayer and my hope to meet my target and surpass it. But principally, what I am going to fight is the ability to do this job without examination. I have appealed to my officers, whatever it is they have to do, let them see the containers, once we’ve examined them, everything should be on cruise control because if you examine, you’ll now know if it’s supposed to go out or not.

“I’ve involved Customs Intelligence Unit, CIU, I’ve involved Valuation Unit, I’ve spoken to all relevant Units and it’s my prayer, by the grace of God, that all of us will be on the same page to make sure that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is brought to fruition”