Customs intercepts military camouflage, illicit drugs at Onne Port
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 2 Command, Onne, Rivers has confiscated 12 containers laden with military/paramilitary equipment and illicit drugs worth over N31 billion.
Comptroller-General, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, stated this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday at Onne, Rivers.
The seized items include 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage, rain boots, various rubber footwear, chilly cutters and cough syrup with codeine.
Others are Tramadol and other illicit drugs, all with a total duty value of N31,200,688,142.
Adeniyi condemned the continued violation of import guidelines by some individuals who were engaging the route for illicit businesses.
He declared a three-month emergency protocol at Onne Port to check the trend, adding that henceforth, NCS will be conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers.
Read Also:
‘’If the owners do not come forward for examination, we will open these containers to verify their contents; this is a temporary, but necessary measure to clean up the port and restore its integrity.
”We shall leave no stone unturned in the fight against economic sabotage, in collaboration with sister agencies.
‘’We will bring the full weight of the law upon anyone found complicit in crime against our nation,” he said.
The comptroller-general, however, assured the business community and legitimate importers on readiness to ensure a safe and secure environment for genuine business activities.
According to him, the command will ensure that lawful shipments get timely and efficient attention during the period.
Adeniyi attributed the operational achievement of the command to effective synergy among security agencies and stakeholders.
He also urged the public to contribute their quota to security through information sharing.
