The Benin city Customs Area Control Roving Team of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “C” Owerri, Imo state has arrested and seized a truck conveying fake varieties of pharmaceutical drugs worth Duty Paid Value of N33,440,000.
It was gathered that the DPV of the means of conveyance (truck) was N7,000,000; all totaling N40,400,000.
Briefing journalists at Customs Warehouse Aduwawa, Benin city, Edo state, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Kayode Olusemire stated that the seizures were made following the intelligence and dexterity of the men of NCS along Benin axis of the Federal Operations Unit.
He warned businessmen, whose stock-in-trade was to smuggle fake drugs into the country, adding that it was inimical to human health. “How can somebody smuggle fake drugs in place of real ones, with potency. This is wicked and in fact ridiculous”.
Olusemire also advised motor transportation companies to check the legality of the consignments they carry before conveying them.
He stated that any drug without National Food, Drug Administration and Control number in the country was fake.
“This is because NAFDAC is the sole body in the country in charge of drugs, and they inscribe their number(s) on any certified drug. We, in the Customs can never marginalize the mandate for which we were established. We must ensure that the primary reason for which we were established is completely realized ”, he added.
In another development, the Customs boss further disclosed that officers and men of the unit had seized 1 x40 feet container carrying 10 cartons of spirit, 37 cartons of beer, 96 pieces of steel doors, 45 cartons of vegetable oil, 50 cartons of mushroom sauce, 7 cartons of noodles and 155 cartons of spices among others, worth DPV of N5,222,797. The seizures was said to be recorded along Port Harcourt -Owerri axis.
He contended that the seizure was following a tip-off the patrol team got from the point of departure of the said trailer (truck).
He further stated that any product brought in the country without English language inscription would not be acceptable.
Olusemire, who said that owner of container was at large, queried why Nigerians should import/smuggle sauce. “Other goods in the container were used to conceal the cartons of sauce”, he added.
Discussion about this post