.Unveils $421,000 bribe cash
By Uzor Odigbo
Customs Service Comptroller general Col. Hameed Ali, on Thursday unveiled Massive seizure of 40 units of 40ft containers of Tramadol and other illicit drugs by the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos.
This is the highest single seizure of drugs made by the service this year
Ali also showed journalists the $421,000 (equivalent of N150m) cash allegedly offered as bribe by the smugglers to customs officers, aimed at compromising the officers to release one of the containers.
The smugglers allegedly promised to pay for each container if the first offer sails through
Ali who disclosed to newsmen that 3 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggled drugs reiterated customs zero tolerance for smuggling and corruption.
He added that customs officers involved in the clearance of the drugs were arrested too
He said service is not only making concerted efforts to ensure that only maximum revenue is collected, but also to safeguard the security and wellbeing of the citizenry.
“We are all aware of the dangers that the deliberate non-compliance to import and export procedures pose to our nation as importers bring in all manner of items which put the security and health of the nation at great risk.
“Terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements get hold of these goods such as controlled drugs to perpetrate their heinous activities.
“It is in line with the determination to fight this ugly trend that the Apapa Command of the service intercepted forty 40- foot containers, mostly from India, laden with tramadol and other pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value of N7, 318,978,065.00.”
He attributed the feat to the vigilance and intelligence gathering within the system as well as information from the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, a strong ally of the NCS
“It is indeed worrisome to note that there are Nigerians who are ready to make money at the expense of human lives by bringing in such quantity of drugs that have grave consequences on health and national security.
“In their criminal desperation, importers of these items offered bribes to the tune of N150m to our officers to effect the release of just one container with promises of even bigger sums to follow in the event that their first attempt succeeds.
“The officers played along and eventually arrested three suspects with the money. Let me assure you that the on-going investigation will be thorough to bring all those remotely connected to justice.”
Ali also disclosed that the Apapa Command of the service within the same period seized two aircrafts.
He said, “One was falsely declared as 388 bags of cashew nuts. This action violates section 36 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, cap C45, LFN 2004. Investigations are on-going to fish out the owners of the helicopter
