The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), recently handed over 2 x 40ft containers of drugs with Nos. MSKU 071916/0 and MRKU 256545/8 falsely declared as vehicles, cartons of makeup items and computer accessories respectively to the officials of the National Agency for Foods, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
This was sequel to the latest operational methodology adopted by the command through profiling, cargo selectivity and system checks of the advance electronic manifest.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf who made the disclosure stated that the command was adopting these procedures to ensure that all imports were electronically monitored with a view to identifying non-compliant declarations and other infractions which could jeopardize the change ideology of the service.
Bashar 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 bill lading, which fuelled the suspicion.
In view of this, he directed that the two containers be brought down to the Enforcement Unit for 100% examination which revealed that container No. MSKU 071916/0 was carrying 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 and 60 Cartons of Really Extra – Analgesique.
Also, container No. MRKU 256545/8 revealed; 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, 240 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 and 850 cartons of computer accessories (keyboard and mouse).
“This infraction which is tantamount to untrue declaration falls under section 161 of The Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004 as amended”, the CAC said.
He gave the importers’ names as J. S. Akuasosi Nigeria Enterprises Limited of No. 31 Balogun Street Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos and Del-Dominion Gold Ventures of No. 5 Borno Crescent Apapa – Lagos and S. Chinax Services Nigeria Limited of No. 5 Industrial Road Port-Harcourt and Robby Concept International Agency Limited of Mini Flat 4 Nnewi building Apapa-Lagos, as declarants.
While handing over the two containers to NAFDAC officials, the Customs Area Controller reiterated his resolve to make the command a model command where compliant traders would enjoy all the tools for trade facilitation created by the Nigeria Customs Service in line with global best practices.
He enjoined importers and their agents to continually uphold the tenets of integrity and due diligence in their declarations as anything contrary would be viewed seriously.
The containers were eventually handed over to the representative of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Abubakar Salisu Abdu, the Chief Regulatory Officer, NAFDAC Port Health, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
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