The Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command on Wednesday said it seized contrabands worth N755.8 million and generated N23.9 billion in the third quarter of 2024.

The command’s Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, made the disclosure in Ibadan, Oyo State, while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements between August and October.

Mr Oramalugo said that the N23.9 billion generated in the third quarter reflected a 27.5 per cent increase over the N17.3 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2023.

He listed the items seized in the period under review to include: 433 bags of 50kg each of foreign rice, 49 sacks of canabis sativa, 93 pieces of used tyres and 8,850 litres of petrol.

Others, he said, were fake pharmaceuticals, including 46 cartons of Analgin injections, 68 sacks of 500mg Amoxicillin capsule,13 packets of pentazocine 30mg and 10 sacks of Arthromether tablets.

He stated, “Cumulatively, for the period covering January to September 2024, the command has generated the sum of N56.6 billion and this reflects a 7.85 per cent increase when compared to N52.2 billion generated in the same period of 2023.’’

Mr Oramalugo said that despite the country’s economic condition, the command had intensified efforts in ensuring that every revenue due to the government was collected in accordance with the law.

He said that the revenue generated underscored the command’s commitment to efficient revenue collection through enforcement, improved compliance and monitoring.

He said that command remained focused on its twin-mandate of revenue generation for government and curbing the menace of smuggling and other illicit activities undermining the economy.

The controller said that this was the second time between January and October that the command would be seizing huge fake pharmaceuticals, adding that it would continue to wage war against illicit drugs.

He assured the public that the command would not allow the business of smuggling and other contrabands to thrive in its area of responsibility.

Mr Oramalugo said that the successes recorded were made possible through the command’s hardworking and committed personnel as well as the support of the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi.

He said that the comptroller-general had just given the command two new Hilux vans, adding that he had also been providing other necessary equipment that would make their job easier.

The controller handed over the seized fake pharmaceutical products worth N596.8 million duty paid value to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control South-West Director, Roseline Ajayi.

Mr Oramalugo also handed over 49 sacks of cannabis sativa worth N46.9 million DPV to an National Drug Law Enforcement Agency official, Abogunrin Olatunji.

(NAN)