The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted items suspected to be tramadol capsules concealed with packages of jumbo size adult diapers in a 40-feet container.

A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Hussain Abdulahi, disclosed that the items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,447,297,050. He identified the container as numbered, MRKU 9090415.

Abdullahi, who quoted the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Jibo, said the container was handed over to the Command by authorities in the Republic of Benin under transit to Nigeria on November 15.

According to Jibo, neither the owner nor any other person has come forward to continue the process of clearance procedure since customs took delivery of the container.

“On Dec. 20, Seme Customs Service invited other security agencies and stakeholders to witness the examination of the said container.

“The items discovered during 100 percent examination are 200 packages of adult diapers, 100 cartons of Gabadol 120mg suspected to be tramadol equivalent to 360kg. The diapers were smartly arranged at the front of the container while the drugs were at the back.

“I directed that samples be taken out officially and handed over to National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ascertain and confirm the drugs”, the statement said.

The Comptroller added that the command has initiated a full-scale investigation with a view to fishing out those involved in the illicit importation.

He warned the perpetrators of unlawful activities to avoid the command or meet their Waterloo.

According to Jibo, officers and men of the Command are not losing guards at ensuring that smuggling under any guise is brought to the barest minimum.

The comptroller said facilitation of legitimate trade remains the cardinal objectives of the command.