***Warns Smugglers To Beware of Apapa Command
By Ambrose Obioma Okehi (News Emperor)
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Apapa Area Command has intercepted 20 cartons of tablets and capsules and other items.
The Command also warned that smugglers to be weary of Apapa Command and it operational areas as the officers and men of the command will not in anyway tolorate such within its jurisdiction.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed who spoke to newsmen, maintained that Apapa port will always remain a no go area for Smugglers, who constantly engage in importation of illicit drugs and other prohibited items.
The CAC who disclosed this while handing over 20 cartons of seized tramadol tablets and capsules to officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), however added that the big arms of the law will catch up with perpetrators.
The drugs, according to the Command, were concealed in a 40ft container falsedeclared as driving shafts and sweets, while the consignee had falsely declared the products as driving shafts and candy sweets.
While handing over seizures to officials of the NLDEA in a handing over ceremony in Lagos.
The Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed informed that the seized hard drugs were uncovered as a result of tip off and intelligence gathering that led to a thorough and meticulous hundred percent physical examination conducted by officers and men of the command.
The CAC told the newsmen that the seized drugs were confiscated in a 20 cartons.
“Today, what we have here is 20 cartons of illicit drugs consisting of 838,500 tablets of 200mg and 90,010
I appeal to stakeholders to be patriotic and have the interest of Nigeria at heart. This idea of quick money at the expense of national security should be jettisoned.”
“When the containers were opened, no driving shaft was found and even the alleged candy sweets weren’t in the container. What we have in the container is Gummy Pop which is a different brand of sweet. So, it isn’t the sweet that matter to the importer but the illicit drugs in the container. It is a clear case of false declaration and concealment in an attempt to deceive security agents so that they could smuggle the drugs into the country,” Comptroller Mohammed said.
The command said investigations are still ongoing following the seizure, just as the CAC confirmed that the Customs licensed used for the importation has been blocked.
On whether any arrest was made, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed said the importers had given a wrong address and could not be reached immediately, noting that efforts are on to apprehend and bring them to book, even if it means collaborating with INTERPOL in the event they are out of the country.
Still lamenting on the high tempo of smuggling activities, the CAC however, expressed concern about proliferation of hard drugs in the country, which he said has been causing havoc in the society.
The CAC claimed that smuggling us the root cause of banditry, kidnappings and all forms of armed robbery and other criminalities that are going in our country today.
Making a speechon after reviewing the hard drugs, the NDLEA Commander, Apapa Command, Mr. Udotong Noah Essien said he was delighted at the development what had just happened and the tempo with which the Apapa customs handled it, assuring that officers and men of NDLEA would continue to partner with Customs to track down the illicit drugs pushers imported through the Apapa port.
“Investigations are still going on and we are partnering with Customs on this. The importer, when arrested will be sentenced to lifetime jail,” Essien said.
The NDLEA commander used the opportunity to also thank the Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa ,rtd, for his outstanding performances since he became the NDLEA boss, disclosing that the NDLEA boss has always encouraged robust collaboration and partnership between them other government agencies.