Customs Yet to Destroy 48 Containers of Seized Tramadol

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*Destroyed 6 first day, four on Friday
*NDLEA operatives keep vigil at site, insist on monitoring movement, destruction of remaining containers
By Francis Ugwoke
No fewer than forty-eight containers of the controversial seized 58 containers of tramadol are yet to be destroyed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
This is contrary to the belief that all the 58 of the containers were destroyed on Wednesday last week.
Sources told SHIPPING DAY that only six of the 58 containers were destroyed on Wednesday.
This followed another batch of four containers which were destroyed on Friday as against Thursday as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were assured on the first day of the exercise.
A source told our Correspondent that the operatives of the NDLEA have remained alert to monitor the destruction of the entire 58 containers as seized by the Customs.
It was also gathered that the operatives of the NDLEA will maintain an eagle eye on the movement of the seized tramadol to ensure that the content of the containers are not tampered with until they are destroyed to the full glare of Nigerians..
It was gathered that while journalists were involved in the coverage of the destruction of some of the containers on Wednesday, this was not the same during the second exercise which was to hold on Thursday and later held on Friday, July 26.
Incidentally, operatives of the NDLEA are beginning to be uncomfortable on the delay in the movement of the remaining containers for destruction, our source hinted.
It was gathered that the operatives have been waiting endlessly for the rest of the containers to be moved to Shagamu, Ogun State site for destruction.
The NDLEA operatives, it was gathered, want the Customs to be fast in moving the containers to site for destruction so as to avoid suspicion of diversion or pilferage of the drugs.
The NDLEA operatives keeping vigil at the site said piece-meal delivery of the containers was not the best as it gives room for suspicion.
Attempts made by our Correspondent to reach the National Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah for comments on the delay in the movement of the containers was not successful.
But a senior customs Controller confirmed that many of the containers were yet to be moved to Ogun State for destruction.
Officials of the Customs Service and those of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESEEA) last week Wednesday watched as some of the containers of tramadol were destroyed.
The drugs which were valued at N14.7bn were destroyed in Sagamu, Ogun State.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd), said the drugs were seized at different formations in the country.
Ali who was represented on the occasion by the Zonal Coordinate of Zone A, Mrs Kathleen Ekekezie said:
“The menace of such drugs in our society cannot be underestimated. Having caused huge negative impact both on the economy and human lives, it is imperative that it must be swiftly curtailed.
“I call on all and sundry to assist our officers and other relevant agencies by providing real time information at all times to help fish out the perpetrators of this negative act of smuggling dangerous drugs.”
The Director General, NAFDAC, prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, also said that the abuse of drugs in the country was a serious issue in the country.
Adeyeye who was represented by the Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs Directorate, Monica Eimunjeze, said such abuse has far-reaching health implications.
She disclosed that 50mg to 100mg of tramadol was what can be approved for importation, adding that anything higher than that is subject to seizure.
According to her, many people were importing as much as 225mg, adding that this has dangerous impact on health.
A committee of all the agencies of government was constituted in order to ensure transparency.