N1.8bn Tramadol from India Seized at Lagos Airport

About 23 packages of tramadol worth N1.8bn imported into the country from India and Pakistan were seized by the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday.

According to reports, that the substance was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by personnel of the Lagos Command of the NCS.

The Customs Area Controller, Compt. Mohammed Yusuf, who disclosed this during a media briefing at the MMIA to announce the command’s first quarter activities, further revealed that the packages of tramadol seized were above the threshold allowed by law to be imported into the country.

He alleged that the drugs were brought into the country in 22 packets of 225mg tramadol and 12 packets of 120mg from the shed of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Limited and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited.

Yusuf noted that the seized drugs will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further action.

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He said, “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, which 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 on the seizure stood at N1.8bn.

“The Tramadol tablets in our custody have been scheduled for handing over to the commander of Narcotics, MMA, Command of NDLEA in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration. This will further strengthen our collaboration in safeguarding our youths from the use of harmful substances which could endanger their lives and the environment. We shall intensify efforts in making our communities safer for us all to live,” he said.