Customs Clamps Down On Recalcitrant Bonded Terminals, Recovers 1.5bn
Customs Clamps Down On Recalcitrant Bonded Terminals, Recovers 1.5bn
…reads riot Act to all stakeholders.
By Jerry Aguigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service has clamped down on erring Bonded Terminals. The Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi while speaking at the handing over of 25 Containers of unwholesome pharmaceutical imports sized by Customs, Apapa Command to National Agency For Food And Drug Administration And Controll,(NAFDAC) at the Apapa Customs Enforcement Unit yesterday, the CGC said the Service under his watch will no longer allow stemming of pharmaceutical products to bonded Terminals. He disclosed that only four (4) ports have been designated to receive pharmaceuticals. These ports are: the One port, Apapa port, PTML and Airport.
Adeniyi also informed that the Nigeria Customs is presently reviewing operational licences of all bonded Terminals to ascertain those that will remain after the review of operational fees which has not been done for ages and those that will be closed down for defaults in terms of agreement and those found to have defaulted the advance ruling system after audit by Customs Post Clearance Audit.
The CGC revealed that 1.5bn has been recovered from one of the bonded Terminals and another 1.6 is still being expected.
His words: “Where it is discovered that haulage operators, bonded Terminal owners, or any other trade facilitators are complicit in these illegal activities, such persons or companies will face the full weight of the law. Our intelligence network and technological capabilities have been significantly enhanced to detect and intercept prohibited items regardless of concealment methods or documentation subterfuge.”
The Comptroller General formally handed over to NAFDAC a total of 25 Containers laden with counterfeit medications, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and prohibited substances including codeine – based preparations that pose imminent danger to public health. These seizures, with an aggregate Duty-paid value of Nine billion, Two Hundred and Thirty -five Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy -three Naira (N9,235,402,973.00). represents a sophisticated network of criminal enterprise that deliberately exploit regulatory gaps to compromise national health security.
The Customs Boss extended special commendation to Customs operatives at the Apapa port Command, who through their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication to duty, successfully executed these complex interdictions, reflecting the core values of the Customs Service.
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