The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, has refused a $54,330 bribe offered by importers of tramadol tablets.
The money was handed over to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Michael Wekas.
The Customs Area Controller for the Tincan Island Command, Dera Nnadi, disclosed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.
The imported tramadol tablets were falsely declared as electrical appliances with a declared value of over N856 million.
The bribe was reportedly offered in an attempt to compromise customs officers.
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Nnadi emphasized the zero-tolerance stance for corruption by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
He commended the customs officers for rejecting the bribe, underscoring their commitment to working ethically and lawfully in the interest of national security.
The act of offering a bribe is in clear violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The Customs Area Controller called for continuous compliance by port users and reaffirmed the commitment of the service, in collaboration with agencies like the EFCC, to frustrate criminal activities at the port.
Two suspects connected to the two containers of falsely declared tramadol tablets are currently under investigation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for possible prosecution.
Upon receiving the cash, EFCC Lagos Zonal Commander Michael Wekas described the incident as a victory for the country and all security agencies.
Wekas also praised the CGC for a letter of commendation appreciating six customs officers who resisted pressure and inducement from the owners of the illicit drugs.
He assured continued collaboration between the Customs Service, EFCC, and sister agencies to combat illegal activities.
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