January 12, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, generated over N1.022 trillion and seized 157 containers of tramadol and other illicit drugs worth N14.4 billion in 2022.
The command also arrested about 60 suspects in connection with various contraband during the year under review and facilitated about N28.2 billion of non-oil commodities with a total tonnage of 6.4 million metric tonnes exported through Apapa port.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Malanta Ibrahim Yusuf, who disclosed this on Thursday, said the revenue collected by the command was 16.07 per cent higher than the N870,388 billion collected in 2021.
He said the port experienced a backdrop in trade, occasioned by fluctuation in the exchange rate and a sharp drop in the purchasing power of the consumers during the second quarter of 2022.
Yusuf noted that despite setbacks in the clearance value chain, the command was able to collect revenue to the tune of N1.022 trillion as revenue for the year 2022.
He said the command has intensified its anti-smuggling operations by leveraging its technological infrastructure to ensure that illicit trade, which poses threat to the national security and well-being of the society, is being detected and controlled from finding its way to our society.
“The Command has strived to move beyond its potential to ensure synergy and collaboration with other stakeholders in the port to address the menace of illicit importation. In the year under review, a total number of 157 containers with a duty paid value (DPV) of N14.4 billion were seized, as against 102 containers with a DPV of N31.8 billion seized in the year 2021.
“Our record shows that fake and prohibited drugs without necessary NAFDAC certification and overdose drugs of Tramadol top the list of seizures made last year. Other items seized include codeine syrup, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, processed/unprocessed wood, used clothing, etc.
“A total number of 60 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures and are at various stages of investigation and prosecution by other agencies of government handed over to.
“In line with the Federal Government diversification of the economy in non-oil export, the command recorded a total of $68.5 million Free onboard (FoB) value with a naira equivalent of N28.2 billion of nonoil commodities with a total tonnage of 6.4 million Metric tonnes exported through Apapa port.
“Items exported through Apapa Port last year 2022 include steel bars, agricultural produce such as hibiscus, sesame seeds, cocoa, cashew nuts, ginger, soya beans, and mineral products,” he said.
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