Onne Customs reject N1m bribe, arrest five over tramadol deal

The last may not have been heard about wharf rats who specialises in breaking containers seal for purpose of pilfering and other vices as customs in Onne Port have arrested a five man gang of thieves who specialise in breaking containers.


Galadima Saidu, Customs Area Controller in charge of the port disclosed Tuesday that the stolen drugs were already seized but the container was broken while some drugs were parked into two vehicles.


Saidu said customs also turned down a N1m bribe given to allow the theft while adding the cash as part of exhibit.


“On July 30, 2019 at about 2240hrs, the Command arrested some men who broke and opened a 1x 40 ft seized container comprising of drugs constructively warehoused and loaded same into two vehicles – Mercedes Benz Jeep with registration number: EPE 828 AR (M/Benz) and Toyota Camry with registration number : EKY 159 BD,” Saudi said.


He gave a breakdown of the seizures as follows;


14 cartons of 50 packs per carton and forty-nine (49) extra packs of cols Time Tablets
Four cartons of (22 packets per carton) and ten (10) extra packets of Really Extra Analgesic
Two (2) cartons – (60 packets per carton) of Tramadol Tablets
One (1) carton and 10 packs of Really Extra-analgesic and anti-inflammative tablets
He added that an interim committee was immediately set up to investigate the incident, with the five suspects and the vehicles detained as at then.


An exhibit of N1 million was recovered from an Officer who was instructed to play –along the deal in order to get to the architect of the conspiracy.


The five suspects are being transferred to the court for prosecution.

“It is regrettable to note that while the Nigeria Customs Service is working round the clock to free this country of illicit goods, some recalcitrant and unpatriotic citizens are not relenting in their desperate urge to sabotage our efforts by spreading harmful drugs.


“The Nigeria Customs is poised to leaving no stone unturned at ensuring that these perpetrators know no sleep as long as they refuse to give up,” he added.