.Surpassed 2023 Revenue Target by over N400B
ZAINAB JUNAID
TinCan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has successfully surpassed it’s 2023 revenue target by over N400B as it announced a revenue receipts of One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Sixty Kobo (1,046,496,593,103.60) between January and November 7, 2024.
The Customs Area Controller(CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, who disclosed this on Thursday, 7 November 2024, described the leap as a significant milestone which must be celebrated being the first time such figure would be achieved in the history of the Command.
Comptroller Dera Nnadi who was addressing journalists amidst Senior officers of Nigeria Customs Service TinCan Port Command, Other Sister Agencies (NDLEA, NAFDAC, NP, DSS) at a press briefing, noted that the figure recorded surpassed 2023 total collection by over N400B which stood at N716.4B.
He dedicated the achievement to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and his management team and also acknowledged the specific roles of the DCG Tariff and Trade and the DCG ICT /Modernization for their contributions towards attaining this quantum leap.
Comptroller Nnadi equally revealed how the Command in collaboration with sister agencies, had hit drug barons hard, successfully made sixteen (16) significant seizures of unregistered pharmaceuticals, illicit items, others.
“Today, we are unveiling sixteen (16) significant seizures of illicit substances, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other items seized by the Command. All sixteen containers were discharged from May 17 to October 23, 2024. Drugs Imported: Codeine-based products: Numerous shipments of cough syrups with codeine; Barcadin with Codeine, Broncleer with Codeine, and DSP with Codeine for throat and chesty cough (100ml, 200 bottles per carton). Tapentadol & Carisoprodol: 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg); Benzhexol Tablets: 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal); Cannabis Indica: 77 packets (38.5kg), 532 packets (265.025kg), and 75 packets (37.5kg); Diclofenac Sodium Tablets: Really Extra brand (50mg, 100 packs per carton); Other goods: Ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, Biomal Artesunate Injection.
“Vessels of Importation: SpilKartika (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2417W); Volana (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2416W, 2421W); Maliako (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2421W); WadiBani Khalid (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2423W); MSC Sweden VI and MSC Katyayni NY427A; Countries of Origin: India (Barcadin, Diclofenac Tablets, Benzhexol, CSP with Codeine); United Kingdom (BiomalArtesunate Injection); Canada (Cannabis Indica).These containers were inspected by multiple enforcement agencies including Customs, NDLEA, and NAFDAC”.
Speaking further, Comptroller Dera said, “Recall that on October 2, 2024, the Tincan Island Port Command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of ₦682,050,000.00. These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers Nos: MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination.
“Consequently, we are handing over an additional 13 Containers of Unregistered pharmaceutical products to NAFDAC. Total Duty Paid Value for the 16 containers is approximately N37, 000,000,000.00 (Thirty Seven Billion Naira Only) with details as follows: Tramadol – 920 cartons in 2x40FT containers worth N23B; Codeine – 1,894,600 bottles in 11x40FT containers worth N13B; Cannabis Indica- 341kg in 3X40 containers worth N682M”.
Also speaking, Commander of Narcotics, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, TinCan Port Command, Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed that over 50 drug barons are in detention and under prosecution, while 37 suspects have been apprehended at TinCan Island Port Command with 34 males and 3 females.
He equally informed that 20 convictions was secured at the court of law.
In his words, “Barely few weeks of my resumption at TinCan Island Port Strategic Command, we are witnessing the mammoth quantity of illicit drugs dutifully taken out of illicit circulation through a combination of efforts of sister agencies. It can’t be nothing better than this. Imagine the the cost of these to the society, individuals, and families, if these drugs have escaped our watchful eyes.
“On my part, I stand on the mandate given me by the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Muhammed Buba Marwa, retired CON, to make TinCan Island Port Strategic Command have zero tolerance to drug trafficking.
