The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has declared a state of emergency at the Onne Port Complex due to the persistent importation of illicit cargo into the country.
This decision follows repeated trade infractions, which the Customs Service has identified as a significant threat to national security.
Speaking at Onne Port, Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, expressed grave concern over the increasing use of the port by criminal elements for illegal activities.
He called on Nigerians to support the Customs Service and other security agencies by providing intelligence that could help dismantle these criminal networks.
During the inauguration of upgraded facilities at Onne Port, Adeniyi acknowledged the progress in trade facilitation but raised alarm over growing incidents of illicit trade and dangerous cargo being imported into the country.
He noted that criminal elements have been exploiting Nigeria’s pro-trade policies to commit acts that pose serious national security risks.
Following the recent seizure of a large cache of arms and other prohibited items, the NCS declared a state of emergency at the port.
Among the most recent seizures made by the Area 2 Command were 12 containers of illicit goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦31.2 billion.
The seized items included 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage rain boots, 67,320 pairs of rubber footwear, 562,600 bottles of 100ml codeine-laced cough syrup, 3,150 chili cutters, and 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine.
In addition, millions of illegal pharmaceuticals were intercepted, including 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 1,300,000 tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of Trodol Benzhexol, among others.
Adeniyi emphasized that these interceptions highlight the vigilance of the Customs Service’s officers and the strength of their intelligence networks and partnerships with other security agencies.
He also warned that the NCS, in collaboration with other agencies, will take decisive legal action against anyone found involved in these illicit activities. He reassured legitimate importers that the emergency protocols were temporary and aimed at safeguarding the port while allowing lawful trade to continue.
During the next three months, all suspicious containers will be subjected to thorough inspections, and containers not claimed for examination will be opened to verify their contents.
The illegal pharmaceuticals, including codeine-laced cough syrups and other prohibited drugs, will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for proper disposal, while other contraband will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Adeniyi reaffirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to protecting the safety and health of Nigerians and pledged to strengthen intelligence networks and inter-agency collaborations to combat smuggling and illegal imports.
