An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service was offered an N1m bribe by 5 suspects to allegedly allow them access to a 40ft container of tramadol seized by the Service. They have since been arrested.
This was made known on Tuesday by the Area Controller, Area II Command, Onne-Port Harcourt, Aliyu Saidu while speaking with journalists.
Saidu said the suspects broke into the container on July 30, 2019, around 10:40 p.m., stole the drugs and loaded same into two vehicles.
He gave the breakdown of the stolen drugs as 14 cartons and 49 extra packs of Cold Time tablets; five cartons and 20 extra packets of Really Extra analgesic; two cartons of Tramadol tablets; and anti-inflammation tablets.
Saidu said an interim committee was immediately set up to investigate the incident, while the five suspects and the vehicles were detained.
He equally said an exhibit of N1m was recovered from an officer who was instructed to play along with the deal in order to get to the architect of the conspiracy.
He said the five suspects have been charged to court for prosecution.
“It is regrettable to note that while the Nigeria Customs Service is working round the clock to free this country of illicit goods, some recalcitrant and unpatriotic citizens are not relenting in their desperate urge to sabotage our efforts by spreading harmful drugs.
“The NCS is poised to leave no stone unturned at ensuring that these perpetrators know no sleep as long as they refuse to give up.
“However, the command advises them to desist as crime pays not.”
