Vincent Toritseju
25 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — THE Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said that it intercepted 1,640 cartons of banned pharmaceuticals falsely declared as vehicles computer accessories and makeup items.
In a statement, the Command’s Area Comptroller Mr. Yusu Bashar said that under-declared items intercepted through the implementation of its latest operational methodology adopted by the Command through profiling, cargo selectivity and system checks of the advance electronic manifest.
Yusuf said that the Command was adopting these procedures to ensure that all Imports are electronically monitored with a view to identifying non-compliant declarations and other infractions which could jeopardize the change ideology of the Service.
He stated that the containers were flagged following some discrepancies in the documentation and declaration made in the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) form C 2010, hence the need for further checks.
The Controller pointed out that the declarations made on SGD C-No. 13473 of 09-02-2017 and SGD C- N0. 84118 of 24-08-2017 were at variance with the contents in the system bill lading, which fuelled the suspicion.
He gave the Importers names as J. S. Akuasosi Nig. Enterprises Ltd. of No. 31 Balogun Street Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos and Del-Dominion Gold Ventures of No. 5 Borno Crescent Apapa – Lagos and S. Chinax Services Nig. Ltd. of No. 5 Industrial Road Port-Harcourt and Robby Concept Int’l Agency Ltd. of Mini Flat 4 Nnewi building Apapa-Lagos, as declarants.
The containers with numbers MSKU 071916/0 had 240 Cartons of New Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg Tablets, 240 Cartons of Double Extra Strong Tramadol 200mg, 240 Cartons of Super Power Tramadol Hydrochloride, 70 Cartons of Ibamol – Diclofenac Sodium Capsules 50mg, 60 Cartons of Really Extra – Analgesique
For container number MRKU 256545/8 was laden with 240 Cartons of New Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg Tablets, 60 Cartons of Really Extra – Analgesique, Antipyretique, Anti-Inflammatoire Tablets, 240 Cartons of Double Extra Strong Tramadol 200mg ,40 Cartons of Super Power Tramadol Hydrochloride and 70 Cartons of Ibamol – Diclofenac Sodium Capsules 50mg
These declarations are contrary to the said to contain three (3) units of used vehicles, cartons of makeup kits, 850 cartons of computer accessories (keyboard and Mouse).
The containers have been handed over to officials of NAFDAC.