Apapa Customs Intercepts Tramadol Worth N223.2m, Declares As Ceramic Tiles

By UDO ONYEKA

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Services, NCS, has intercepted a Container- Load containing 554 cartons of tramadol  concealed in 1000 cartons of ceramic tiles.

The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta, who disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Apapa said the command’s anti- smuggling architecture has been redesigned to suppress smuggling to barest minimum.

Yusuf said ” Barely three weeks after I resumed duty, I came in with strong

determination, zeal and commitment to ensure that the confidence and

trust bestowed on me by the CGC is upheld not abused. In line with

that, the command’s anti-smuggling architecture has been redesigned

to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.”

Describing how the tramadol was fished out he said, “acting on Manifest Management system, we were able to track and intercept a container No. 1793504 manifested as ceramic tiles. “Upon 100 per cent physical examination to ascertain its true contents, it was found to contain 554 cartons of Tramadol capsules (120mg) concealed with 1000 cartons of ceramic tiles”.

Apart from the Tramadol, the Controller said with the support of his

Management team they were  able to make the following intervention:

One (1) 40ft container loaded with sacks of mosquito coil products

but declared as Ground paper and packaging paper bag, Seven (7) containers loaded with bales of used clothing and shoes and One (1) container of unregistered pharmaceutical product (989 cartons of Mixagrip tabs) wrongfully declared as winches and

gaskets.

Further Yusuf said the Command has

launched a preliminary investigation with a view to identifying the consignees for arrest and possible prosecution in connection with this criminal and unlawful importation.

The Controller assures members of the business community on increased sensitization, enlightenment