The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 20 containers laden with illicit drugs and other prohibited contraband imported through Onne Port in Rivers State, with a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of N10.2 billion.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt II Command, Onne, Mohammed Babandede, said the containers, comprising 20-foot and 40-foot sizes, were seized between January and March 2025.

He displayed the seized items, which included two 40ft containers containing 271,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each), 85,000 bottles of CSMIX with Codeine (100ml), 1,200 pieces of cock, 94 cartons of sanitary wares, and 21 cartons of TBS rubber.

Also seized was a 40ft container carrying 158,400 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each) and 11,690 pieces of Chilly Cutter; another 40ft container with 158,400 bottles of Barcadin with Codeine Syrup (100ml each) and 240 pieces of local sanitary wares.

The command also intercepted four 20ft containers containing 64,416 tins (400mg each) of Soupy Tomato Paste and 16,104 tins (200mg each) of the same product, as well as six 20ft containers with 6,300 jerry cans (25 litres each) of Delicieux Cooking Oil.

Additionally, a 40ft container with 280 bales of used clothes and two cartons of toys was seized, along with two 20ft containers containing 2,100 jerry cans of Super Gold Vegetable Cooking Oil (25 litres each).

Another 40ft container was found with 980,000 tablets of Tamol-X, 4,830,000 capsules of Pregabalin (300mg each), and 288 cartons of WCs.

The command also seized a 40ft container with 320 bales of used clothes, and another 40ft container with 360 bales of used clothing, along with two bags and one box of personal effects.

Babandede revealed that the command is handing over a 20ft container containing donkey skin meant for export to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service.

He stated that importing illicit drugs and other prohibited goods into the country has serious consequences for both the public and society.

According to him, perpetrating any form of illegal activity is criminal and remains punishable under extant Nigeria Customs laws, which carry penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment or both, depending on the nature of the offense.

On revenue generation, Babandede said the command also collected N190.5 billion as revenue during the same period, an increase from the N162.7 billion called in the same period in 2024.

He said this shows an improvement with a difference of N27.8 billion, representing a 17.12 per cent increase against the first quarter of 2024.

On export, Babandede said the command processed 1.274, 695 metric tonnes of export, comprising of mostly agricultural products and solid minerals with at a value of N2.3 billion.

He said the Nigeria Customs Service is making significant strides in trade facilitation through its modernisation project, which integrates various applications, platforms, and hardware into a comprehensive import and export management system.

He also stated that the Command leveraged this project with yielding remarkable results, which includes the efficient release of containers.

“We trained stakeholders on the B’odogwu Unified Information Management System in order to understand the modality of its operation for efficiency in the clearing procedure and better revenue collection,” he added.