The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tramadol

  • Court orders destruction of 14 containers of Tramadol

    A LAGOS Federal High Court yesterday ordered the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to destroy 14 containers loaded with a banned drug, Tramadol.

    The drug was confiscated at the Apapa Wharf in Lagos on February 20 and September 28.

    Justice Saliu Saidu made the ex parte order following an application by NCS’ counsel, Mr. Bisi Ogunlowo.

    The judge held: “I have listened to the submission of the counsel and gone through the affidavit in support of the application and the written address and the attached exhibits.

    “The application is hereby granted as prayed.”

    In an affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Dabaj U. H, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs (AC) and an officer in the NCS’ Legal Section, Apapa Area Command, the applicant averred that the Tramadol and other items were intercepted on February 20 and September 28.

    The deponents said: “Besides smuggling and fraudulent evasion of duty, some of the defaulters brought in unlawful and prohibited items, which are so classified by the Customs Law and provisions.”

    Dabaj said because of the severity of the penalty and sanction attached to the offence, “the smugglers and the defaulter along with their collaborators, have refused and/or failed to come forward to claim the goods, most of which are Tramadol, from the Nigeria Customs Services, thereby abandoning same to date.”

     

  • Customs seizes N3.06bn worth of tramadol, other drugs at Onne port

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized nine 40ft containers of tramadol and other controlled drugs with duty paid value of N3.06 billion at Onne Port, Rivers.

    Mr Augustine Chidi, the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in-charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, announced the seizure in Port Harcourt.

    Chidi said the containers were falsely declared as containing PVC ball valves and general goods.

    “You will recall that last week, Nigerian Customs Service announced the seizure of 50 containers in Lagos.

    “This brings to a total of 59 containers of controlled drugs so far seized within this month,’’ Chidi said.”

    He said that the importation contravened “Section 46 of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap 45 LFN’’.

    Chidi said that the Comptroller General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, ordered a thorough investigation to bring perpetrators to justice.

    “Let me assure you that the NCS will not relent on its role of contributing to national economic and security well-being of Nigerians by ensuring that items that can negatively affect the citizenry are not allowed into the country,’’ he said.

    According to him, NCS is increasingly relying on intelligence and technology to make it difficult for smugglers to have their way.

    He called on the public, especially border community dwellers and port users to desist from importing illicit goods.

    Chidi also called for public support for better performance by NCS and expressed concern that Nigeria was experiencing increasing attempts by unpatriotic elements to smuggle dangerous drugs into the country.

    He said the increasing smuggling of controlled drugs into the country could be traced to the Christmas and New Year season as well as the coming elections in 2019.

    According to him unscrupulous business men were exploiting the market provided by the seasons and elections in which some politicians might want to engage the youth in unwholesome activities.

    “These elements are morally bankrupt and willing to make money at the expense of human lives. We must stop them as we all have a duty to protect our nation,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, the Controller, Area II Command of NCS, Comptroller Aliyu Saidu, said the command would perform better when it received one of the three scanners approved by the Federal Executive Council for the customs.

    “It will greatly assist our command in checking crime and increase our revenue base,’’ Saidu said. (NAN)

  • Customs seizes Tramadol worth N7.3b

    •Two helicopters impounded
    •Officers reject N150m bribe

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said yesterday that it had intercepted 40 by 40 feet containers laden with Tramadol and other dangerous pharmaceutical products worth over N7.3billion.

    A large number of the dangerous drugs, NCS said, were imported into the country by some scrupulous importers from India to endanger the health of the nation.

    Attempt by the importers to bribe Customs officers with over $400,000 (about N150million), to effect the release of just one container out of the 40 seized, it was gathered, was rebuffed by the officers.

    Addressing reporters at the Apapa command of the Service while displaying the dollars yesterday, its Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), said NCS has also impounded two helicopters that can be used for nefarious activities.

    One of the helicopters with registration number SN-BLI, the Customs helmsman said, was intended for export, and was concealed in container number PONU7789246, while the second helicopter, a Cessna 182A, was imported into the country from the United States of America for unknown assignment.

    Ali said the first helicopter was falsely declared as 388 bags of cashew nuts, while the second was concealed in container number MRKU 4457663 before they were intercepted by some vigilant and patriotic officers of the command.

    Its importation, Ali said, violates Section 36 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Cap C45, LFN 2004 over failure to provide End-User-Certificate from the offices of the National Security Adviser and approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

    Investigation, the CGC said, was ongoing to fish out the owners of the two helicopters.

    He said three suspects with some Customs officers that were involved in the clearance of some of the containers laden with Tramadol drugs from the port have been arrested for further investigation and possible prosecution.

  • Youths on tramadol, other drugs fueling security challenges, says Bayelsa govt

    The Bayelsa State Government on Monday said Nigeria’s security challenges had become more complex because of the rampant and indiscriminate use of illicit drugs by the youths in the country.

    The state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) spoke when members of Course 27 of the National Defence College (NDA), Jaji, Kaduna state, led by Deputy Commandant of the institution, Major-General Peter Dauke visited him in Government House, Yenagoa.

    He described this year’s course theme, “Youth Management and National Security” as apt, noting that youths under the influence of drugs like tramadol, codeine, marijuana among others were being used as tools to foment trouble and chaos in the society.

    He tasked relevant authorities including the military, police and other security agencies to adequately educate the citizenry on security challenges facing the nation”

    He said : “The theme is apt. Security challenges in the country are getting more complicated and the ready tool for people to use are the youths and if you are not able to understand and study what is happening to the youths, in most cases your estimate may never be correct.

    “At the moment, the challenges are becoming more complex because of the ready use of drugs. There is rampant use of drugs by youths all over the country, not only in Bayelsa state.

    “Those under the influence of drugs are the ones that you can easily mislead to behave in ways that they become nuisance to the community and then crime rates will increase, they become less useful to

    themselves as well as the society.

    “If you do not educate the people, security challenges will come up. The person who understands the implication of the action he is taking is less likely to be led astray than somebody, who has been given opportunity. So I am very happy that this particular year’s study has to do with the issue of security. A serious issue in our country today”.

    He enjoined members of Course 27 to be thorough and unbias in their research in the state and to give the government a detailed report to enable it improve on its developmental and structural policies and programmes.

    Jonah expressed appreciation to the military forces for their sacrifices, commitment to national security and professional conduct.

    He called on the Federal Government to provide the needed logistics for the military to enable them perform optimally.

    He said: “For the participants, we wish you well. It is one of the best thing that could happen to you, to pass through the Defence College. As a person who has been there before, if you take course seriously, at the end of the day, you are no longer the same person.

    “We expect your research to be thorough and unbias. Tell us as it is but let it be based on evidence so that as a state we will learn something from it so that the state can improve as a result of your research here. That is the only way you can say you have impacted on society”.

    In his remarks, Dauke said the team was in Bayelsa state as part of its tour to study the role of youths in the society in terms of management and security.

    He said that Course 27 comprised 130 participants and 17 allied participants from Brazil, Nepal and India. 

  • Unidentified youth dies moments after taking Indian hemp, tramadol

    An unidentified youth in  Oko Oba, Agege,Lagos,died penultimate Tuesday shortly after taking Indian hemp and tramadol.

    Witnesses said the incident happened at the Abattoir end of Oko Oba.

    It was learnt that the deceased smoked Indian hemp with some of his friends, following which he also took tramadol.

    A source who asked not to be named disclosed that ‘’the deceased then sat down at a corner where he took tramadol.’’

    He was said to have palpitated severally after taking the combined hard drugs leading to his death moments later.

    The source added: ‘’ When he started behaving funny, we thought he was just acting clownishly until he palpitated for some minutes and subsequently became weak.

    ‘’ He later started foaming in his mouth and by the time bystanders rushed to attend to him he had died.’’

    The Nation learnt that his body was evacuated by men of the Abattoir Police Division.

  • Customs seizes N21b Tramadol, hemp in Sokoto

    Some 68 cartons of Tramadol and 120kg of cannabis valued at N21.1 million have been intercepted by the Sokoto Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    The command said it also seized six cartons of expired cigarettes.

    Handing over the seized items to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA) and the National Food and Drugs Administration Commission (NAFDAC) at the Area Command, the Area Comptroller Nasiru Ahmed said the Tramadol worth N20 million was abandoned in a house in the Sokoto metropolis.

    The cannabis worth N1.1 million, he said, was intercepted at Kamba border concealed in bales of second-hand clothing.

    Ahmed said that the Indian helm was highly concentrated and was brought into the country from Benin Republic.

    He reiterated his call on border communities to always see smuggling as dangerous to their societies and the nation at large not a business.

    He stressed the need for stronger synergy between security agencies to curtail the menace.

    “Nigeria is our country and we need to double our effort to stop illicit drugs and firearms into our country,” he said

    He added that investigation is ongoing to unravel the owners of the seized items, just as he advised the state government to demolish the house where the tramadol was found.

    On their separate remarks, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC and the representative of NDLEA, Hamisu Yahya and Mustapha Ali-Baba appreciated the gestures which they said had shown the synergy between the command and other sister agencies as this was not the first seizure it handed over to them.

  • NAFDAC destroys N3b tramadol, others

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed N3.5bn worth of seized drugs and other products described as the largest seizures in recent times.

    The products destroyed at Okediya dump site, Shagamu, Ogun state included

    Tramadol, Codeine, consignments of smuggled/ illegally imported Unwholesome Sugar (different brands) of Brazilian sugar worth over N100m which was said to have been rebranded by one businesswoman in a popular Lagos market. And Counterfeit medicines.

    Also included are damaged and expired NAFDAC Regulated products voluntarily submitted to the Agency by compliant companies.
    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye breaks it down: “The total street value of the products destroyed is about Three Billion, Five Hundred and Eight Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty-two Naira (N3,508,550,762.00).  The street value of tramadol that is being destroyed today is estimated to be N1,708,750,000.00”.

    According to the Director-General, the street value of Tramadol seized alone was estimated at N1.7bn adding that the Tramadol was intercepted mainly at Tin Can Port in Apapa.

    Prof. Adeyeye was joined by the First Lady of Ogun State, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunsho Amosun, and officials of the Ogun state government as well as other stakeholders including NDLEA, Police and DSS to destroy the seized items.

    She explained that while only 50m and 100mg of Tramadol are approved for use in Nigeria, the strength of most of the ones seized was far above the approved range. The unapproved strengths are 250mg and 500mg.

    Prof Adeyeye said: “The banned strengths have deleterious effects on vital organs of the body including the brain. 13 containers of banned and unregistered Tramadol and Diclofenac released to the agency by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) are also being destroyed, here”.

    Read also :NAFDAC, others enlighten on herbal products

    The Director-General revealed that investigations by her agency have shown that there is a cartel specialising in the importation of this banned Tramadol into the country, adding that all hands must be on deck to stop those behind the cartel.

    “I am calling for quick amendment of the NAFDAC laws to prescribe a stiffer penalty for peddlers of the banned drugs. Just last week, the agency secured a conviction for one Mr Ezeanwu Ifeanyi at the Federal High Court in Lagos with the convict sentenced to five years imprisonment for being in possession of Tramadol though with an option of N300,000 fine.

    “We also have one counterfeit medicine seized and confiscated from Olisameka Osefo. The suspect was arraigned and subsequently convicted while the fake medicines were forfeited to the government for destruction”, she added.

    Prof Adeyeye appealed to the National Assembly to speed-up the amendment to the laws to address the dangerous trend of Counterfeiting and destruction of innocent lives.
    “A situation where a convict is sentenced to two years in prison with an option of the maximum statutory fine of five hundred thousand is a nudge on the counterfeiters, not even a slap. We call for stiffer sentencing, confiscation of the assets of the convict and adequate compensation of the victim(s) of the crime among others,” she stated.

    Meanwhile Mrs Amosun and the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye commended NAFDAC for its proactiveness and diligence which resorted to the massive seizures.

    They equally urged the agency to adhere to the international standard of destructing seized regulated items, stating that, “when they are burned in open space as this, they emit dangerous chemicals into the air, thereby polluting the environment. Do get incinerators,” said Mrs Amosun.

  • NDLEA alerts Nigerians to high inflow of Tramadol

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday said Nigeria might face a drug abuse epidemic due to increasing influx of Tramadol into the country.

    Mr Garba Ahmadu, the NDLEA Commander, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, gave the warning at an event to mark the “UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” in Lagos.

    Ahmadu said that the quantity of Tramadol coming into the country was of high volume because traffickers were bringing a lot of it, apart from other drugs such as Methamphetamine and Ephedrine.

    He said that due to the vigilance of NDLEA at the Lagos Airport, a lot of departures from Nigeria divert to other West African countries, whenever they were coming to the country.

    “If you look at the manifest so far, you will see a lot of departures from Nigeria; but somehow, when they are coming back, you see them diverting to most West African countries.

    “There is an upsurge in the quantity of drug seizure, because if you look at what we have been able to arrest in 2017, it is a kind of unprecedented in the last 10 years in terms of quantity.

    “Again, if you look at this year, we have almost tripled what we have been able to do; what is surprising about this thing is the quantity of Tramadol coming into the country”.

    “The volume is much, because they are bringing a lot of it, apart from other drugs.

    “There are several upsurge too of either inward or outward trafficking, mostly outward trafficking of Methamphetamine and Ephedrine.

    “These are things that are very clear and there is a growing increase in trafficking of Methamphetamine, Ephedrine and Tramadol,” Ahmadu added.

    According to him, the command has made several arrests in connection with the drug importation which has been very encouraging.

    He noted that the theme of 2018 event, “Listen First” was apt, because listening to children and youth was the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. (NAN)

  • NAFDAC seizes 35 containers of Tramadol at ports

    THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized no fewer than 35 containers of tramadol at various ports, its Director-General Prof. Moji Adeyeye said yesterday.

    Adeyeye, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said nine out of the seized containers of tramadol were released to NAFDAC by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) and had been destroyed by her agency.

    “We are seriously working with the Custom on this and each time they seize any container, they usually invite us to come and see the containers with tramadol.

    “So far, 35 containers were seized and only nine of them have been handed over to NAFDAC, which we have destroyed,” she said.

    She, however, decried the delay by the Custom in handing over the rest of the containers to her agency.

    She hailed the present administration for placing an embargo on codeine, which she said, like tramadol, should only be given only by prescription as done in advanced country.

    The director general said the agency was more determined and committed than ever to stem the menace of illicit and fake drugs in the country.

    Prof. Adeyeye said the agency has cleared backlog of 6,000 applications for registration of products within six months.

     

     

     

  • 35 containers of tramadol seized at ports – NAFDAC

    Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the agency has seized not fewer than 35 containers of tramadol at various ports in the country.

    Adeyeye disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

    She said nine out of the seized containers of tramadol were released to NAFDAC by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), and had been destroyed by her agency.

    “We are seriously working with the custom on this and each time they seize any container, they usually invite us to come and see the containers with tramadol.

    “So far, 35 containers were seized and only nine of them have been handed over to NAFDAC which we have destroyed,” she said.

    She, however, decried the delay by the custom in handing over the rest of the containers to her agency.

    The NAFDAC boss stated that tramadol was a restricted drug but had been abused by Nigerian youths who use it without prescription.

    According to Adeyeye, who is also a professor of pharmacology, the drug destroys children’s brain thereby threatening the future generation of the nation.

    She lauded the present administration for placing an embargo on codeine, which she said, like tramadol, should only be given only by prescription as done in advanced country.

    The director general said the agency was more determined and committed than ever to stem the menace of illicit and fake drugs in the country. (NAN)