The Nigeria Customs Service Apapa Area Command reported N213 billion in revenue from January to March 2023.
Auwal Mohammed, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, stated this to journalists on Tuesday at the command.
In March, the service intercepted 144 million tramadol tablets worth N22 billion en route to Nigeria from India, according to Mohammed.
He stated that the tablets, each weighing 225mg and weighing 10.3tonnes, were hidden in two 40-foot containers.
“It is pertinent to mention that on Friday, 31 March, 2023, we uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft container numbers TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 where 144m tablets of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tons that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at N21.6bn.”
He said the command within the period under review also processed agricultural products like sesame seeds, ginger, hibiscus, mineral resources, steel ignot and others for export.
The Apapa Customs boss said that the exported products had a total tonnage of 110, 448metric tons in the first quarter of 2023.
“Statistics from the export shows that the exported goods are worth N70bn. Which is equivalent to free on board value of $159m.”
He also said that within the period under review, the command seized a total of 14 containers comprising of prohibited items.
“The items include, vegetable oil, footwears, used clothing, unprocessed wood and tramadol with a duty paid value of N22bn.”
Mohammed said that the command has commenced manhunt for those who are behind such unlawful importations.
“Very soon we will track them down to face the full wrath of the law. As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty to prevent this kind of importation from entering the market to safeguard the health of the citizenry.”
He said since inception as the Apapa Customs boss in January, he has had meetings with various stakeholder groups comprising importers, exporters, licensed agents and fright forwarders.
“In this command we have a deliberate culture of inter-agency collaboration with other government organisations. Within the first three months, I have enjoy robust sharing of credible intelligence and support from other agencies of government.”
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