Smuggler promised N50m bribe for confiscated containers release – Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service’s Tincan Island Command stated that it turned down a N50 million payment that a drug smuggler who was importing tramadol and other drugs had proposed in exchange for the release of his container.

Speaking to reporters at the command on Monday, Tincan’s Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Adekunle Oloyede, said this.

According to him, Boniface Ike, the suspect, acknowledged ownership of two 40-foot containers filled with drugs and valued at N550m in duty-paid sales.

“One of the suspects in detention, Boniface Ike, acknowledged that he is the owner (importer) of the two containers and demanded a confidential discussion with the command,” he stated.

“With the hope of getting crucial information from the culprit, I told my officers to play along. To their surprise, however, the suspect demanded his release from custody and the release of the containers in exchange for N50m, which, at the current exchange rate of N920/$, is equal to $54,330. To be presented as an exhibit, the money was gathered and held in the enforcement unit’s safe custody.

Oloyede noted that two individuals had been detained and were now in the custody of the command’s enforcement team.

He claimed that the medicinal cartons that were seized came from India.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, according to Oloyede, regulates the unlicensed pharmaceutical products that were seized.

He repeated that the medications lacked the import permits and certificates that they should have had.

He declared that the organizations in charge of overseeing such importation restrictions would receive the suspects, containers, and evidence.