Fifty-three sacks of fake pharmaceutical drugs with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.7 billion have been intercepted and seized by the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Disclosing this during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, the Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, said that the fake pharmaceutical drugs and other contraband goods were intercepted between January 19 and February 29.
The Area Controller made it known that the truck conveying the fake pharmaceutical drugs was intercepted at Bakatari Community axis.
The fake drugs included Augmentin tablets (625mg) stocked in seven sacks, Ampiclox capsules (500mg) in 22 sacks, and Amoxicillin capsules (500mg) in 24 sacks.
The Comptroller said that in an attempt to escape the eagle-eyed Customs operatives, electronic gadgets were arranged in the outer part of the truck conveying them while the fake drugs were concealed in the inner part.
Also intercepted were 345 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice with duty paid value of N24.218 million, 344 25-litre kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) worth N5,728 million, 1,309 pieces of used tyres worth N70.14 million, 45 sacks of used clothing with a value of N32.4 million and eight sacks/nine bales of used shoes worth N10.32 million.
Others were 35 cartons and five bottles of foreign wine with Duty Paid Value of N6,231,206 million, 40 bottles of five-litre foreign vegetable oil worth N1.76 million, 21 bottles of one-litre vegetable oil with duty paid value ofN99,225 and four wraps of 4kg marijuana worth N126,000.
He said that in the emerging economic challenges and increased attempts to compromise the integrity of the nation’s borders, the anti-smuggling activities of his area command had been strategically positioned to ensure that the federal government policy on border closure is totally enforced.
This, according to him, had been adopted to prevent the importation of prohibited items which are harmful to the nation’s citizens, and the exportation of essential food resources for individual economic gains by some saboteurs.
On revenue generation, Comptroller Oramalugo said that the Area Command collected N5,664,295,751.25 billion between February 1 and 27.
When added to N6,824,954,338.96 billion collected in January, the Comptroller put the total for the two months at N12,489,250,090.11 billion.
Saying that the area command had demonstrated resilience and efficiency in revenue generation in spite of prevailing economic challenges, the Comptroller commended Customs officers for working diligently to ensure tax and duty collection in accordance with the mandate of the Service.
He stated further that his area command was committed to facilitating trade in essential commodities and supporting the federal government efforts to enhance food security in the light of ongoing economic difficulties.
Oramalugo reiterated the closure of borders within the command’s area of responsibility in line with government’s policy, adding that the officers remain vigilant and dedicated to preventing the smuggling of items that could compromise the health and well-being of citizens.
