This was disclosed by the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, comprising of Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Nassarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe States, Peters Olugboyega while handing over the drugs to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the Zonal headquarters in Bauchi.
Peters Olugboyega disclosed that 840 packets of Tramadol 120mg were seized while 4,437 packets of Diazepam valued at N7, 350, 000 were seized during the operations.
He explained that, “On Thursday, September 13, 2018, the Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service Abuja Headquarters Information Patrol left Abuja and invited the Operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, on a joint credible Information Patrol of suspected hard drugs being deposited in a store around Tudun Wada area of Gombe state”.
“The joint Operatives raided the store and were able to evacuate hard drugs comprising of Tramadol 120mg and Diazepam all controlled drugs” declaring that a suspect was arrested during the raid and was in the custody of the Service.
According to him, the drugs are psychoactive, psycho-pharmaceutical drugs that change brain function adding that the Diazepam is a medicine of Benzodiazepine family that typically produces calming effect adding that the Tramadol is an opiod pain medication used to treat and moderate severe pain.
“These are controlled drugs, you can imagine the havoc they may cause to our youth if drugs of such magnitude find their way into our society. As of today, the Federal Government is worried with the damaging effects these hard drugs are causing in our society,” he added.
The NCS Zonal Boss further said that, “Therefore, the task to salvage the youths and even some adults of this country from the menace of drug peddlers is a collective one and non-negotiable”.
Peters Olugboyega further said that the drugs are classified under Common External Tariff, Heading 3004 at zero per cent Duty and no VAT, but must have permit before importation under the NAFDAC Narcotic Control.
He further said that the action of the Operatives was in line with the provisions of Section 8 of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 laws of the Constitution which empowers them to have powers of Police Officers, search premises and patrol freely.
He then warned smugglers to desist from their nefarious acts because failure to do so, “we will arrest them no matter where they are hiding and send them to the court of competent jurisdiction where they will face the full wrath of the law.”
In a brief remarks after taking custody of the items, the Exhibit Officer of the NDLEA who represented the State Commander, Nasiru Babura, said that the Agency will carry out a thorough investigation before taking the suspect to court.
He said that the NDLEA is worried about the activities of drug peddlers and users particularly as the 2019 general elections is fast approaching pointing out however, that the agency has plans to reduce the circulation of drugs at all channels.
Nasiru Babura, who is a Superintendent of Narcotics, warned that any person caught importing, supplying, transporting or abusing drugs will be prosecuted just as he also counselled that drug traffickers should consider themselves as parents and “if they import these drugs, they don’t know where these drugs go to, it might end up destroying close me
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