The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Space II Command, Onne, Rivers State, has intercepted 20 containers of illicit medicine and different contraband items valued at over N13.5 billion.
Outgoing Customs Space Controller, Mohammed Babandede, who disclosed this yesterday in Onne, mentioned the medicine have been imported from India and focused on the Nigerian market.
He defined that 17 of the containers have been loaded with codeine syrup and tramadol, whereas the remaining three contained machetes, cartons of tomato paste and gallons of vegetable oil.
Babandede, not too long ago promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller-Common of Customs, described his tenure in Rivers State as rewarding. He famous that in 2024, the command was given a income goal of N618 billion however truly generated N639 billion. In 2025, with a goal of N700 billion, it had already generated N477 billion by August. In complete, he mentioned, the command generated N1.16 trillion below his management, whereas additionally selling commerce and providers.
Asserting the seizure, he mentioned, “Some individuals take illicit medicines for various causes with no skilled medical prescription. For instance, codeine syrup and tramadol could be misused for his or her euphoric impact or to really feel relaxed, which regularly results in dependancy, dependence and crime. The Command efficiently intercepted a complete of 20 containers, with a mixed Obligation Paid Worth of over N13.5 billion. Whereas being calculative at evading regulatory scrutiny, the medicine have been fastidiously smuggled utilizing the techniques of concealing them below the guise of normal imports.”
Babandede added that Nigeria has lengthy battled the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs, which pose grave public well being dangers, together with doubtlessly deadly outcomes.
“To guard public well being and fight drug trafficking, the Nigerian authorities has banned the importation of sure drugs, together with counterfeit medicine and substances like codeine and tramadol. These measures purpose to make sure protected medicines, sort out faux medicine points and scale back drug dependancy, which pose critical well being and safety challenges,” he mentioned.
He has since handed over to his successor, the brand new Customs Space Controller for Space II Command, Onne Port, Aliyu Alkali, after his redeployment to Zone A as Zonal Controller.
