The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area II Command in Onne, Rivers State, has achieved an impressive 89% of its ₦618 billion annual revenue target for 2024, generating over ₦550 billion as of November 11, 2024. The announcement was made by Comptroller Mohammed Babandede during a press briefing at Onne Port, where he also highlighted the Command’s remarkable successes in anti-smuggling operations.
Comptroller Babandede disclosed that the Command intercepted 21 containers of illicit drugs and donkey skins with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦46 billion, bringing the total seizures for the year to 63 containers with a combined DPV of over ₦130 billion.
Seizure Details
The seized items include:
- Drugs:
- 2,624,053 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup with Codeine
- 27,048,900 tablets of 225mg Tramadol/Tapentadol/Tamolx
- 7,665,000 counterfeit antibiotics without NAFDAC numbers
- Several other fake and unregistered medications.
- Other Items:
- 2,100 pieces of donkey skin
- Sanitary fittings and chilly cutters used for concealing contraband.
The 21 containers have a total DPV of ₦46.4 billion, while the donkey skin alone is valued at ₦441 million.
State of Emergency on Smuggling
Comptroller Babandede emphasized that the Command has been operating under a three-month state of emergency declared by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. This directive empowers officers to thoroughly inspect all suspicious containers, ensuring no illegal items escape detection.
According to Babandede, the proactive approach has been instrumental in protecting public health and national security. The Command collaborated with agencies such as NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, and Quarantine Services to achieve these results.
Anti-Smuggling Milestones
This year, the Onne Command has intercepted:
- 844 rifles
- 112,500 live ammunition
- Over 6.4 million bottles of 100ml codeine syrup
- Nearly 57 million tablets of Tramadol and other illicit drugs.
The seizures violated provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the revised Import Prohibition Guidelines (2022–2026).
Revenue Generation and Trade Facilitation
On revenue performance, the Command recorded ₦550.4 billion by leveraging tools like the World Customs Organization’s Time Release Study (TRS) to expedite trade while maximizing revenue collection.
In exports, the Command processed 2,436,408 metric tonnes of goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $826.6 million, further contributing to economic growth and foreign exchange earnings.
Acknowledgments and Next Steps
Comptroller Babandede praised the media for their role in sensitizing the public and fostering compliance with trade regulations. He also announced that seized items had been handed over to regulatory agencies like NDLEA and NAFDAC for appropriate action.
The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration between the Customs Service and its stakeholders to sustain the momentum in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.
