The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri said it intercepted tramadol and other contraband goods with a duty paid value (DPV) of N99,820 million from April to June 2021.
It said five suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, which include 45 rolls containing 4,500 sachets of 225mg of royal brand of tramadol, 210 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 18 parcels of Indian Hemp, 19, 725 sachets of diazepam tablet, 98 bales of used clothing, 220 cartons of foreign tomatoes paste, 12 cartons of foreign Johnson soap, 240 pieces of used tyres, 668 pairs of used shoes, among others mostly intercepted along Okada-Benin/Lagos expressway.
The controller of the unit, Yusuf Lawal, said though smuggling is a global phenomenon that cannot be eradicated entirely, all hands should be on deck, to reduce it.