The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Tincan Island Port Area Command reported that a suspect, Mr. Boniface Ike, offered its officer a N50 million bribe in exchange for the release of his container, which had been confiscated.
At a news conference in Lagos on Monday, Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede, the command’s area controller, revealed this and said that the recovered contraband was purportedly brought from India.
Oloyede said that the suspect and one of his accomplices are being held at the enforcement unit of the command for questioning.
According to him, the suspect admitted to being the importer of the seized containers, which were worth N550.3 million. He said the suspect wanted to speak privately with one of the policemen.
“I gave my officers the go-ahead to act amused, and the request was granted in the hope of getting crucial information from the subject. To their surprise, however, the suspect begged for release from custody and the return of the containers.
“He provided satisfaction worth N50 million, which is equal to $54,330 at the moment’s currency rate of N920. He described how the money was gathered and kept in a secure location at the enforcement unit to be presented as an exhibit.
The materials were hidden in two 40-foot containers with the bills of lading numbers 227578945 and 227898171, according to Oloyede, who confirmed that the command got timely intelligence from its Customs Intelligence Unit.
“The containers (MRSU 592397/0 and MRKU 553432/1) were transferred immediately to the enforcement station for 100% physical examination and further investigation,” he said of the vessel’s arrival at Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT).
Enforcement officers, Customs Intelligence Operatives, Customs Police, and examination officers of the terminal physically examined both containers on August 22 at around 2 p.m. and August 23 at around 1 p.m., respectively.
At the conclusion of the inspection, it was found that the contents were inconsistent with the bill of lading for the container with the designation MRSU 592397/0.
The goods were listed as electricals, a ceiling fan, 36 Cooper gems, and chilled cutters (stainless steel plastic) on the bill of lading (No. 227578945).
“Upon inspection, it was discovered that the container contained five cartons of Timaking 120 tapentadol hydrochloride carisoprodol pills. Each carton has 50 rolls, which each include five packets and 200 tablets each, according to him.
The containers also contained 84 cartons of gastro-resistant omeprazole capsule BP 200mg, each of which contains 50 packets containing 10 capsules; 876 cartons of CSMIX cough syrup with codeine, each of which contains 200 bottles; 50 cartons of manual grater machines, each of which contains 70 pieces; and one carton containing a ceiling fan.
It was discovered that the second container, with the number MRKU 553432/1, contained 10 cartons of Super Royal 225mg (Tramadol).
Each carton has 50 rolls, each roll has 10 packets, and each packet has 10 pills, according to Oloyede. 105 cartons of Omeprazole Capsule BP 200mg, each containing 50 packets containing 10 capsules; 754 cartons of Barcadin with Codeine 100ml, each containing 200 bottles; 50 cartons of manual grater machines, each containing 70 pieces; and one carton of a compo ceiling fan round out the other contents.
He claimed that the unlicensed pharmaceutical products seized were NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control)-regulated goods.
He added that the importer lacked the necessary licences, certificates, or other paperwork to ensure that the products were safe for Nigerian consumers.
Oloyede stated that the organisations in charge of policing and prosecuting criminal criminals will receive the suspects, containers, and exhibit.
In a separate event, he claimed that on August 24, the command discovered a container that contained frozen poultry goods.
He claimed that the interception came as a result of a thorough surveillance operation on a routine inspection at TICT of a container with the number TTNU 804678/9, which fraudulently claimed to contain tangerines.
“The goods were falsely declared because importation into the country is prohibited (Trade).” According to Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (2023), the container has been confiscated.
Oloyede promised that in cooperation with other security and regulatory agencies, Customs would utilise all available resources and tactics to counter the threat posed by the unlawful importation of deadly drugs and substances that are both illegal and unregulated.
