Customs intercepts N1.8b tramadol from India, Pakistan at Lagos Airport

The Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said its officers intercepted 23 packages of tramadol worth N1.8 billion imported into the country from India and Pakistan.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Lagos airport, yesterday, to announce activities of the command in the first quarter, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Mohammed Yusuf, said the tramadol seized were above the threshold permitted by law to be imported into the country.

According to him, the Tramadol came into the country in 22 packets of 225mg tramadol and 12 packets of 120mg from the shed of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Limited (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL).

“Through credible intelligence, the command recorded seizures of packages of pharmaceutical products that included 22 packets of 225mg of tramadol and 12 packets of 120mg of tramadol. They were concealed and imported into the country through India and Pakistan

“The above seizures were recorded based on intelligence-driven operations within the airport. The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizure stood at N1.8 billion,” he said.

Yusuf, however, stated that the seized drugs will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action. He also disclosed that the command also generated a total sum of N21.4 as revenue between January and March 2023.

“It is worthy to note that the revenue activities of the command comprise importation and exportation of legitimate goods, goods under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS),” he stated.