Customs Intercepts N550m Tramadol At Lagos Port, Rejects $54,300 Bribe From Importer
Written by Yusuf Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, said it has arrested a Nigerian importer, Boniface Ike, for offering $54,330 (N50m) bribe to officers of the Tin-Can Island Command of the Service over the seizure of two 40ft containers laden with illicit and dangerous drugs imported into the country from India.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller, Tin-Can Island Port, Compt. Adekunle Oloyede, stated that the unregistered pharmaceutical products, which were intercepted at the Lagos Port, were worth N550million.

According to him, the products didn’t have the required permits and certificates for importation, hence the illicit dangerous drugs were masqueraded as electrical appliances by the importer.

LEADERSHIP reports that the missing documents are to ascertain the safety of the products for consumption by Nigerians.

Compt Oloyede said, “The Tin-Can Island Command received a timely intelligence from the Command Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), on the suspected importation of illicit dangerous drugs (unregistered regulated pharmaceutical products) concealed in 2 by 40ft containers with Bill of Landing Nos 227578945 and 227898171. On arrival of the vessel in Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT), the containers (MRSU 592397/0 and MRKU 553432/1) were transferred immediately to the Enforcement Station for 100 per cent physical examination and further investigation.

“The physical examination was conducted on both containers by enforcement Officers, Customs Intelligence Operatives, Customs Police and Examination officers of the Terminal on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 at about 14:00hours and Wednesday, 23 August 2023 at about 13:00hours, respectively. The following were discovered: Container No MRSU 592397/0: The details on the Bill of Lading with No 227578945 stated the items laden were 1,016 packages containing Electrical Goods Ceiling Fan 36 Jewel (Cooper) and Chilly Cutters (Stainless Steel Plastic) but after examination, the container was found to contain 5 cartons of Timaking 120 Tapentadol (Tramadol) Hydrochloride Carisoprodol capsule. Each carton contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 5 packets, each packet 200 tablets.”

“The second containers, with no MRKU 553432/1; the details on Bill of Landing with number 227898171 stated the items laden were 1,021 packages containing Electrical Goods Ceiling Fan 36 Jewel (Cooper) and Chilly Cutter (Stainless Steel Plastic) but after examination the container was found to contain 10 cartons of Super Royal 225 (Tramadol). Each carton contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 10 packets, each packet 10 tablets.

“Two suspects have been arrested and are presently at the custody of the Enforcement Unit in accordance with the investigation process of the Service. One of the suspects in custody, Mr. Boniface Ike, accepted that he is the owner (Importer) of the two containers and sought to discuss privately with OC Enforcement, DC GI Aliyu and Team Manager, CIU AC H Abubakar.

“I instructed my officers to play along, the request was granted in expectation of receiving vital information from the suspect but to their bewilderment, the suspect pleaded for his freedom from detention and release of the containers while offering gratification to the tune of N50 million equivalent to $54,330 (at the current exchange rate N920). The money was collected and kept in safe custody at the Enforcement Unit to be tendered as exhibit.”


Compt. Oloyede, however, stated that persistent fraudulent nature of importers and agents has driven the Service to be more innovative in putting methods and measures to combat smuggling activities, block revenue leakage and ensure safety of Nigerians.

“The Nigeria Customs Service will not be a part of nefarious acts which will jeopardize the safety and lives of the citizens of our dear country, Nigeria, any fraudulent importer or agent who tries to perpetrate such acts will be prosecuted accordingly.

“The suspects, containers and the exhibit will be handed over to the Agencies that are in charge of regulation of such importation as soon as the Service directs and the Service may decide to prosecute according to the Service Act, Nigeria Customs Service Act (2023),” he added.

https://leadership.ng/customs-intercepts-n550m-tramadol-at-lagos-port-rejects-54300-bribe-from-importer/

Great job by Customs and NDLEA. The Customs officer need to be specially recognised to motivate others.
God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

The only way for nigeria to develop is to stop bribery..

Another person who allowed himself to be wrongly influenced by the chief druggie. Tunubu has caused untold problems in this country.

Nigerian businessmen and developers.

My brother the thing really shocki me. More evidence that Nigerian customs are eating big money.

taylor88:
Customs reject 50million naira ($54k) bribe keh

Abi who wan pay the bribe hold camera

N550M worth of consignment is hooge oo. Na chin chin? Omo

Mkprumirri billionaires at it again!

They hide under trading while their real business is drug peddling.

Drug peddling is behind their "I go feed your generation" brags.

What is it with these people and drug peddling

LOL...
.
.
.
.
Una go just dey whine una sef. #50m bribe is a red flag na. If they had upped the bribe we for no dey here.

Ibos take drug business as family business

The must corrupt government agency in Nigeria.

Thanks for your service

We need to eradicate corruption and drugs in our country

Tinubu's protege

Customs rejected the bribe because they know they can sale the whole consignment and get a larger amount than the 50 million bribe...




Or what do u think they will do with it? Burn it?

NewDea4:
Ibos take drug business as family business

What about your president? Like President like citizens

Yet na BAT be drug lord for their eyes. Smh

Boniface Ike aka the developer and the self-acclaimed billionaires

Igbos again.

I will collect the bride and still arrest them.

Kai see how people invest hug amount 💰💰💰💰💰🤑 in evil things
Import into 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 when boy buy am they begin get side effects,,, so many premature death ☠️☠️💀 from street Bois

Evil 🙈🙈 don't pay

cenaman:
The must corrupt government agency in Nigeria.

Modified: Truly Most corrupt! Same as EFCC.

Even EFCC is far more corrupt than NDLEA.

The truth is that NDLEA under Buba Marwa has been amazing... This isn't surprising for anyone who witnessed his giant strides as military governor of Lagos state.

This is the only Northerner that I will openly fight and campaign to be elected President of this nation, currently.

Matter of fact, Marwa is one of the few Nigerians left on Earth that can actually deliver as Head of state of this nation.

oilmatters:
Igbos again.

Bola the cocaine sniffing vagabond is at Large

Mr Boniface didn't bargain well he would had priced 100 m and above make I see whether NCS go reject am.

Great job keep it up

cenaman:
The must corrupt government agency in Nigeria.

followed by the Nigerian Correctional Service

I don't believe custom rejects that bribe

May be the people didn't want to pay them the actual bribe they demanded.

They con vex cast them

Angelfrost:


Most corrupt?!!... You haven't heard of Nigerian Immigration and Customs?!!

Even EFCC is far more corrupt than NDLEA.

The truth is that NDLEA under Buba Marwa has been amazing... This isn't surprising for anyone who witnessed his giant strides as military governor of Lagos state.

This is the only Northerner that I will openly fight and campaign to be elected President of this nation.

na customs intercept dis one not NDLEA

IPOB miscreants at work again

Maybe they've all sworn to damage Nigeria's reputation for not allowing them secede cos I can't explain why they love peddling drugs this much

Death sentence pls

Hehehehe..

Boniface IKE.

Electronics business for frontend, cocaine for backend.

Small time they will start chest beating poverty is not their own portion like the other regions of Nigeria.

They complain Nigeria is not good but they are the ones spoiling the country.


The FG should start killing these people when caught with drugs