…generate N31b revenue for January 2018
The highest revenue generation command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area 1 have seized smuggled drugs in four units of forty foot containers valued at N110,016,524 at the Lagos port complex.
The command also collected a total revenue of N31.,015,084,626.85 for the month of January as against N25,958,919,218.73 collected in January 2017.
Customs Area Controller of the command, Musa Jibrin who announced the seizures to newsmen in Lagos , said the seizures were made following credible intelligence received from the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
According to Jibrin, ”On Tuesday February 6, 2018,bases on credible intelligence from the CIU Apapa Command,3×40 foot container with numbers MRSU 3637149; MRKU 6196 and MRSU 3516384 imported by one Villa Gold Pharmacy from India were suspected to contain controlled drugs.
”The said containers were examined and found to contain different pharmaceutical products/ Drugs which are controlled and regulated from importation into Nigeria”
MRSU 3637149 contains 936 cartons of tramadol hydrochloride tablets (225mg) and 56 cartons of Collstop Chloropheniramine maleate capsules(4mg)
Jibrin added that MRKU 6196764 contains 368 cartons of tramadol capsules BP (120mg); 192 cartons of tramadol capsules (250mg) and 160 cartons of Dobumol Anagelsic
He said MRSU 6058282 was laden with 554 cartons of tramadol capsules BP (120mg) and 176 cartons of Col cap
Similarly, on February 7, 2018 another 1×40 container was found to contain 200 cartons of tramadol (225mg);330 cartons of Ibramol; chest and lungs tablets (15mg); 198 cartons of Col-caps capsule (4mg) and 453 cartons Rally Extra (50mg)
The customs chief said one person was arrested in connection with the seizures and has been granted administrative bail.
Jibrin who reiterated the command’s resolve to surpass last years feat added that the N5.1 billion increase above January 2017 collection is an indication of a better year for the command in terms of performance.
He disclosed the command’s revenue for 2018 as N426b with a monthly target of N35.5b. He said the command is committed to increasing all areas of revenue collection and blocking any possible leakage.
Meanwhile, he said the seized drugs will be discharged to the appropriate government agencies for due diligence.
