Ali disclosed this in Sagamu, Ogun State, during the flag-off of destruction of smuggled tramadol and other illicit drugs seized by the service.
Represented by the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Zone A, Mrs. Kaycee Ekekezie, Ali added that smugglers of these prohibited substances have been deploying antics of packaging to disguise aimed at beating Customs check.
“I am standing here with mixed feelings because money that should have been used for better productive purposes will be destroyed.
“People should never see smuggling as a trade. It is a crime . I urge all importers to take advantage of the customs portal and be sure of the status of whatever they want to import” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the joint committee comprising customs and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),Aminu Dahiru, disclosed that a total of 58 containers valued at N14,706,322,871 are up for destruction.
Dahiru said his CGC believes strongly in the synergy between customs and other organisations in the fight against sub standards, unregistered drugs and abuse of regulated products.
Dahiru added that most violent crimes like robberies, kidnappings, banditry and others are linked to consumption of illicit drugs.
“We are starting the destruction here because of the high volume of seizures made in the South West where a lot of Customs activities take place.
“We shall be doing similar destructions in Poet Harcourt, Kaduna and Bauchi where we have customs zones.
“Residents and stakeholders in these areas should await our invitations soon.
“These drug seizures were made in the face of attacks, maiming, killings and other unwarranted provocations.
“Even as we are here,some of our anti smuggling officers have been receiving threats for their exploits. Smugglers of these drugs are unhappy because we stopped them from making money through destruction of lives.
“Our men come under threat severally for their uncompromising posture in the fight against smuggling of any kind and we will never compromise” Dahiru said.
The Director General of NAFDAC who was represented by Emejezie MD commended customs efforts in preventing the smuggling of the drugs into Nigeria.
She said the approved milligrams for tramadol is 50 and 100 milligrams while the higher milligrams above 100 are prohibited.
Some of the destroyed drugs are of 250,500 and 1000 milligrams
The destruction was witnessed by office of the Ogun State Governor representatives of NAFDAC, National Environmental Standard Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
