The Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it rejected the N50m bribe offered by a smuggler involved in the importation of tramadol and other drugs for his container to be released.
The Customs Area Comptroller of Tincan, Mr Adekunle Oloyede, said this on Monday while addressing journalists at the command.
He said the suspect, Boniface Ike, accepted ownership of two 40-foot containers arrested with drugs with the duty paid value of N550m.
He said, “One of the suspects in custody, Boniface Ike, accepted that he is the owner (importer) of the two containers and sought to discuss privately with the command.
“I instructed my officers to play along; the request was granted with expectations of receiving vital information from the suspect. But to their bewilderment, the suspect pleaded for his freedom from detention and release of the containers while offering gratification to the tune of N50m which is equivalent to $54,330 at the current exchange rate of N920/$. The money was collected and kept in safe custody at the enforcement unit to be tendered as an exhibit.”
Oloyede added that two suspects were arrested and were currently in the custody of the enforcement unit of the command.
He said the seized containers of pharmaceuticals were coming from India.
Oloyede said that the unregistered pharmaceutical products intercepted were regulated products by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
He reiterated that the drugs didn’t have the required permits and certificates for importation.
He said the suspects, containers and the exhibit would be handed over to the agencies that are in charge of regulation of such importation.
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