A man has been arrested for his involvement in the importation of N4 billion worth of tramadol and other illicit pharmaceutical products.
The arrest and seizure were at the popular trade fair complex, Ojo, by operatives of the Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force, Team A.
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It was learnt that the 10×40ft container containing the drug and other substances was being transferred to a bonded terminal when it was diverted to the trade fair market by some criminal businessmen.
Addressing newsmen, the Coordinator of the CGC Strike Force Team A, Mohammed Sani Yusuf, said the team had been on the trail of the container right from the country of export.
Yusuf said on arrival in Nigeria, the container was assigned to a bonded terminal from where it would go through the customs examination process, but that the importers who knew the contents of the container decided to divert it to the trade fair market.
He said with 24-hour surveillance patrol, the team swooped down on the gang before the contents of the container would be removed.
He said, “The truck was moved to the headquarters of the CGC Strike Force Team A located within the Nigeria Customs Training School, Ikeja.
“When it was eventually opened, it was discovered that it contained 1,613 cartons of codeine cough syrup (100ml per bottle), 132 cartons of 200mg sildenafil citrate, 40 cartons of tramadol, five cartons of chilly, which was contrary to what was stated on the bill of laden by the importer.
“It was stated that the container contained a cutting machine.”
