Tin Can Customs Hits N1trn, Intercepts 16 Offensive Containers

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command has announced the whooping collection of N1,046,496,593,103.60 in revenue receipt for 2024 with still more than six weeks for the year to end.

TCIP Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, who disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday, explained that the figure is the highest revenue recorded so far by the command in a single year.

Nnadi also informed that the Command recently intercepted 16containers of illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceuticals; in line with management’s zero tolerance for condoning prohibited imports and all forms of violations.

Speaking on the command’s activities January till date, the Tin Can Island customs boss said, “We are glad to announce that the Command as at today the 7th of November 2024 has generated N1,046,496,593,103.60. The Command wishes to celebrate this milestone of collecting over one trillion naira as Customs duty being the first time this has been achieved in its history.

“I dedicate this achievement to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and his management team. The Command acknowledges the specific roles of the DCG Tariff and Trade and the DCG ICT /Modernization for their contributions too. Aware that a secured border will translate to more revenue at the seaports, we also appreciate the support of the DCG Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection in enforcing compliance among our stakeholders leading to the increased revenue in the Command,” Nnadi said.

The customs service poster boy who said the level of stakeholders’ compliance is steadily improving, and which according to him was a major factor in the present success story.

This is even as he explained that the command under his watch attaches great importance to stakeholders partnership, noting that at every stage since the beginning of the year, stakeholders have been given very due attention.

“In line with the policy thrust, TCIP Command tagged the year 2024 as; “The Year of the Stakeholders” which further align with the theme for the International Customs Day, “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”.

“Distinguished members of the press, we choose a new slogan every week as our motivating mantra in aid of our work. Our slogan for the week is Reform or Regret. We choose this slogan because we believe that our stakeholders must align with the vision of a new Nigeria.”

On the command’s anti-smuggling activities, Nnadi listed the seized sixteen containers among illicit substances as well as those laden with unregistered pharmaceutical products profiled, identified and picked up between May 17 to October 23, 2024.

The offensive imported drugs include cough syrups with codeine; Barcadin with Codeine, Broncleer with Codeine, and DSP with Codeine for throat and chesty cough (100ml, 200 bottles per carton); 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg); 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal); Cannabis Indica: 77 packets (38.5kg), 532 packets (265.025kg), and 75 packets (37.5kg) and Diclofenac Sodium Tablets: Really Extra brand (50mg, 100 packs per carton).

Other seized goods were; Ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, BiomalArtesunate Injection.

He also listed the means of conveyance to include the following vessels: SpilKartika (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2417W), Volana (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2416W, 2421W), Maliako (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2421W), WadiBani Khalid (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2423W), MSC Sweden VI and MSC Katyayni NY427A.

Comptroller Nnadi informed that stakeholders who fail to comply with customs extant laws and guidelines cannot be helped as they will continue to record losses through seizures.

“Recall that on October 2, 2024, the Tin Can Island Port Command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of N682,050,000.00. These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers Nos: MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination.”

Speaking further on the illicit substances, he said, “Consequently, we are handing over an additional 13 Containers of Unregistered pharmaceutical products to NAFDAC. Total Duty Paid Value for the 16 containers is approximately N37, 000,000,000.00 (Thirty Seven Billion Naira Only).

“ The details as follows: Tramadol – 920 cartons in 2x40FT containers worth N23B; Codeine – 1,894,600 bottles in 11x40FT containers worth N13B; and Cannabis Indica- 341kg in 3X40 containers worth  N682M.”

Warning would be recalcitrant stakeholders not to test the resolve of the command and its officers, Nnadi said tough time await anyone who will attempt to circumvent the service’s laid down rules and regulations concerning due process and national security.

“The Command in particular and the Service in general will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at our disposal and in collaboration with local and foreign partner security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country. We are more than committed to deliver on this mandate.

“Aware that yuletide is around the corner, I wish to reassure all our stakeholders that the Command will partner with those who are compliant to ensure there are no delays in their cargo delivery”, adding:

“We are also using this opportunity to inform those who will dare our resolve that we are ready to enforce the requirements of our law.”