…rakes in N89.2bn in 6 months
The Kirikiri Lighter Terminal of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized and handed over cartons of expired drugs to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Eghosa Edeldouk said this during a press conference this week where she also revealed that during the period of January to June 2025, the Command recorded a total revenue collection of ₦89,205,500,741.85.
She said this figure represents an increase compared to the corresponding period in 2024, which stood at ₦54,806,893,697.00.
Comptroller Edeldouk added that the difference of ₦34,398,607,044.85 reflects a 63 percent growth, demonstrating the Command’s enhanced operational efficiency and improved compliance levels.
In anti-smuggling operations, she said that the Command maintained a posture of alertness, discipline, and zero tolerance for infractions. She reported that the enforcement team intercepted two 40ft containers, identified as HLBU 1067338 and HLBU 2239792, both loaded with expired pharmaceutical products, with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N130 million.
The street value of the seized cough syrup with an above the standard level of codeine is N7 billion. She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to applying the law without compromise in order to protect public health, and uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and professionalism in all aspects of its operations.
The seized containers were initially declared as dutyable items, but at inspection found to contain banned pharmaceutical products which ordinarily should have been cleared from the Apapa Port as the Port that receives pharmaceutical imports.
The containers were abandoned by the importers after suspecting that the officials were already aware of the contents. Both containers were then handed over to the representative of the NDLEA, Ashiru Abdullahi who expressed his delight at the seizure and the collaboration between the two sister agencies.
Leave a comment