Some of the seized tramadol

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri of the Nigeria Customs Service, intercepted tramadol and other contraband goods with a duty paid value DPV of N99.8million between April to June, 2021.

This is sequel to the strengthening of its anti-smuggling operations, which also led to the arrest of five suspects in connection with the seizures.

The seized items include 45 rolls containing 4,500 sachets of 225mg of royal brand of tramadol, 210 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 18 parcels of Indian Hemp, 19, 725 sachets of dizapam tablet and 98 bales of used clothing.

Others include 220 cartons of foreign tomatoes paste, 12 cartons of foreign Johnson soap, 240 pieces of used tyres, 668 pairs of used shoes, among others most of which were intercepted along the Okada-Benin/Lagos expressway during the period under review.

Customs Area Controller of the zone, Comptroller Yusuf Lawal Psc(+) while speaking on the seizures, reiterated that though smuggling is a global phenomenon that cannot be eradicated entirely, all hands must be on deck so that it could be reduced to its barest minimum in the country.

He commended the resilience and doggedness of his officers and men that brought about this result noting that only God knows what would have happened if the tramadol gets to the wrong hand at this trying moment as the negative consequences cannot be over-emphasised.

“This feat could not have been possible without the logistics support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire management, as well as the media for your partnership in sensitising and educating the general public on the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy which has led to drastic reduction of smuggling within our zone”, the Comptroller said.

He further thanked other sister agencies that are always on ground giving the zone the necessary operational support, most especially the Nigeria Army, Police, Directorate of State Security DSS among others, adding that the service looks forward to sustaining such relationship that will yield better performance in the remaining half of the year and beyond.

While urging his officers/men to always ensure professionalism and be diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities, Comptroller Lawal also charged them to sustain the anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue leakages are blocked and encouraged them to keep thwarting the antics of those dare devil smugglers who device different methods of concealment for their nefarious smuggling activities.