From left: Representative of the DG NAFDAC , Abubakar Salisu Abdu, a Chief Regulatory Officer of the agency, being handed over the two containers by the Deputy Comptroller Enforcement, DC Dera Nnadi, who represented the Customs Controller, Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf recently in Lagos.

The Tin can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has given a vivid description of how it detected and seized two 40-foot containers with registration numbers MRKU 256545/8 and MSKU 071916/0 falsely declared as used vehicles and computer accessories last week.

The command had on Friday October 20, 2017, handed over the two units of 40-foot containers falsely declared as vehicles, cartons of makeup items and computer accessories respectively to officials of the National Agency for Foods, Drugs, Administration and Control NAFDAC.

Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf, who spoke on the activities that preceded the seizure, said that the discovery and subsequent seizure of the containers was sequel to the latest operational methodology adopted by the command through profiling, cargo selectivity and system checks of the advance electronic manifest.

According to him, the command is currently adopting these procedures to ensure that all Imports are electronically monitored with a view to identifying non-compliant declarations and other infractions which could jeopardise the change ideology of the service.

He further stated that the containers were flagged following some discrepancies in the documentation and declaration made in the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) form C 2010, hence the need for further checks.

“The declarations made on Single Goods Declaration SGD C-No. 13473 of 09-02-2017 and SGD C- N0. 84118 of 24-08-2017 were at variance with the contents in the system bill lading, which fuelled the suspicion”, the CAC said.

In view of this, he directed that the two containers be brought down to the Enforcement Unit of the command for 100 per cent physical examination.

It was gathered that the Importers names are J. S. Akuasosi Nig. Enterprises Ltd. of No. 31 Balogun Street Amuwo Odofin, Lagos and Del-Dominion Gold Ventures of No. 5 Borno Crescent Apapa – Lagos and S. Chinax Services Nig. Ltd. of No. 5 Industrial Road Port-Harcourt as well as Robby Concept Int’l Agency Ltd. of Mini Flat 4 Nnewi building Apapa-Lagos, who were also said to have made the declarations

In the course of the examination, it was discovered that the container with registration number MSKU 071916/0 was laden with 240 cartons of New Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg tablets, 240 cartons of Double Extra Strong Tramadol 200mg, 240 cartons of Super Power Tramadol Hydrochloride, 70 cartons of Ibamol – Diclofenac Sodium capsules 50mg and 60 cartons of Really Extra – Analgesique.

Similarly, the container with registration number MRKU 256545/8 was discovered to contain 240 cartons of New Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg Tablets, 60 cartons of Really Extra – Analgesique, Antipyretique, Anti-Inflammatoire Tablets. 240 cartons of Double Extra Strong Tramadol of200mg, 240 cartons of Super Power Tramadol Hydrochloride and 70 cartons of Ibamol – Diclofenac Sodium Capsules 50mg.

These drugs are contrary to the declarations of three units of used vehicles, cartons of makeup kits, 850 cartons of computer accessories (keyboard and mouse).

These false or untrue declarations contravene section 161 of The Customs and Excise Management Act CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004 as amended.

While handing over the two containers to NAFDAC officials, the CAC restated the resolve of the command under his leadership to make the command a model Port where compliant traders will enjoy all the tools for trade facilitation created by the service in line with global best practice.

He enjoined Importers and their agents to continually uphold the tenets of integrity and due diligence in their declarations, warning that anything contrary would be viewed seriously.