… Olomu expresses Port’s determination to eliminate Nigerians’ vulnerability to the selfish interest of merchants of death
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS has intercepted two Lexus jeeps stolen from Canada, among other seizures. The two jeeps were concealed in a 40ft Container, No.MRKU 0904594.
The Command has also grown its generated revenue to N1,094 trillion as of 21 May 2025.
The jeeps, a 2024 model Lexus RX 450 vehicle with chassis number JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and another 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chassis number 2T2BAMCAPCO32741, were falsely declared as food items.
Addressing the press on Thursday in Apapa, Lagos, the Command’s Boss, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, noted that six containers laden with prohibited items, mostly unregistered pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, used clothing and two cars illegally imported, were uncovered.
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, PhD, Apapa Port Customs Area Command, lauds the inspiring, positive influence of the CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, in the soaring profile of revenue in Lagos.
He disclosed that the seizures were worth a total DPV of: N3,247,427,969.00 (Three billion, Two hundred and forty-seven million, Four hundred and twenty-seven thousand Nine hundred and sixty-nine naira).
The Controller gave a breakdown of the seizures into three classes, with category 1 being Container No.SUDU 8685733 (40FT), which was found to contain 1,698 of RTPL CSC Cough syrup with codeine concealed in 202 packages of water closet.
Another was Container No.MRSU 4846204 (40FT) was found to contain 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in the toilet seat. The two seizures were said to have a street value of N2,710,400,000.00 (Two billion, seven hundred and ten million, four hundred thousand naira only).
Comptroller Olomu revealed that these two containers were intercepted as a result of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to him, Category 2 was Container No.ONEU 1153150 (40 FT) found to contain 1,584 packages of Globatin anti-marks & 30g Clobetasol cream falsely declared as truck tyres and Container No.MRSU 3258823 (40 FT) found to contain Rabeprazole, for injection, 25mg Zahifranil tablets, 1000mg vancomycine hydrochloride, ciprophetadine with vitamin B complex, and other pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC registration number, falsely declared as kitchen wares and tables.
Category 3 was the container carrying the two stolen Lexus Jeeps, and container No.SEKU 4716830(40 FT) found to contain 390 bales of used clothing, which contravenes the import prohibition law.
Comptroller Olomu noted that the seizures were fallouts of uncompromising anti-smuggling activities of the command, warning that the command will not sacrifice compliance on the altar of trade facilitation, saying that under his watch and with the inspiring guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, the Command remain committed to its mandate.
He emphasised that while the command will facilitate trade, collect revenue for the government, it owes the Nigerian people the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and well-being.
In the Controller’s words: “As officers at the nation’s largest, busiest and premier port, we are determined to avoid making Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of merchant of death whose stock in trade is to bring in harmful substances like the ones I shall be showing you today.
“We also intercepted two cars stolen from Canada that were attempted to be smuggled into Nigeria, as I mentioned earlier.
“In addition to contravening the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, these imported containers with prohibited medical items also violate the World Customs Organisation’s Operation Stop IV, which is a global enforcement operation against trafficking of counterfeit, substandard and unauthorised medical supplies.
“So far, three suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures and are at various stages of interrogation to face the full wrath of the law”, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu further said.
He announced that having crossed the one trillion Naira collection before the end of the fifth month, the command has so far generated a total of N1,094 trillion as at 21 May 2025.
“This collection confirms our trajectory and laudable antecedent of meeting and surpassing our target. Like we’ve done before, we are ready to do better this year.
“Our chronicle of outstanding revenue collection speaks boldly for us and attests to our capacity to do more. For instance, in October 2024, we collected N18.2 billion; on March 14, 2025, we recorded a feat of N18.9 billion; on 20 May 2025, we made another record-breaking collection of N18.919 billion. All these were groundbreaking daily collections,” he stressed.
The Controller used the briefing to warn that Apapa Port will remain a no-go area for any unlawful activity and that officers are very much ready to uncover concealments and effect seizures or arrests where necessary.
