The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command in Onne, Rivers State, has intercepted 12 containers containing military and paramilitary gear, as well as illicit drugs valued at N31 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press briefing on Wednesday in Onne, Rivers State.
The confiscated items include 4,800 pairs of military and paramilitary camouflage, rain boots, various types of rubber footwear, chilly cutters, and cough syrups containing codeine. Other seized contraband includes Tramadol and additional illicit substances, bringing the total duty value to N31,200,688,142.
Adeniyi expressed strong disapproval of the continued disregard for import regulations by individuals using the port for illegal trade.
In response, he announced the implementation of a three-month emergency protocol at Onne Port aimed at curbing the illicit activities.
He stated, “If the owners do not come forward for examination, we will open these containers to verify their contents; this is a temporary, but necessary measure to clean up the port and restore its integrity.”
The Comptroller-General also emphasized that the NCS would take all necessary actions to fight economic sabotage, working closely with other security agencies.
“We shall leave no stone unturned in the fight against economic sabotage, in collaboration with sister agencies,” he said
Assuring legitimate businesses of continued support, Adeniyi reiterated the NCS’s commitment to creating a safe environment for genuine business operations, stating that lawful imports would receive prompt and efficient processing during the protocol period.
He credited the command’s success to the cooperation between security agencies and stakeholders, and encouraged public participation in enhancing security through information sharing.
“We will bring the full weight of the law upon anyone found complicit in crime against our nation,” he warned.