Container Blocking: We Intercepted an Already Cleared Container of Arms, Tramadol from Lagos Ports—-Police

—As Shippers Council Reassure Stakeholders of Enhanced Cargo Security

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Maritime Police Command at Kam Salem House, Obalende Lagos has said that it intercepted container laden with arms and another with tramadol which has already scaled through all clearance processes by relevant agencies at the Lagos Ports.

Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Adebayo Rasheed stated this on Friday at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council to address complaints emanating from clearing agents and freight forwarders on the random blocking of containers by the maritime police command and alleged gratification.

ASP Rasheed stated that the Police carries out its operations based on intelligence, assuring that the police would not compromise national security on the alter of trade facilitation.
According to him, blocking of containers by the Police cannot be stopped.

He however called on stakeholders to report cases of extortion by any officer to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Maritime Command.
The Police image maker also debunked reports that the Shippers Council was conniving with some officers to extort clearing agents on blocked containers, adding that the Council has always only been at the forefront of fighting for the right of port stakeholders.

“The Shippers Council have always come to our office gunblazing and fighting us on behalf of stakeholders about the matter of container blocking. The Shippers Council are not conniving, and there is no conspiracy anywhere. Every agencies in the maritime sector are working together, but for the Police, we are for prevention of crimes and protection of lives and properties.

“When there is intelligence at our disposal about a particular shipment, it is important that we follow up. Most times, the intelligence are generated by our men you see at the ports for examination. At that point of examination, the lead agency is the Customs, the Anti-bomb squad are also attached to the maritime police, NAFDAC, Immigration, NDLEA, Quarantine are all there during the examination, but it is not in their powers at that point of examination to stop the container, but our men give us a feedback on such containers.

“Two weeks ago, we seized a shipment that contained arms, and this is a shipment that has been dully cleared, it was one of the dully cleared containers. The last time this happened, the owner of the container ran to the media to complain that the police are collecting N200,000 bribe to clear container. That person was charged to Court.

“Last month, we also caught a container full of tramadol, but what they declared in the container was okrika clothes (second hand clothing)
Our work is to prevent crimes and investigate them. However, we hear you and we are ready to work with you. But you cannot continue to work with rumors that Police are collecting bribes on containers on blocked containers, if you have your facts and evidence come to us or write a petition to the office of the AIG and include the officer’s name, if nothing is done, it doesn’t stop at the office of the AIG, you can escalate it to Abuja for the IG or the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy” ASP Rasheed said

On the alleged delays in getting containers released after police investigation, he lamented that sometimes, when a container is certified okay and released by the Police, it takes four days for the releasing officers of the shipping companies to act on it.

He said that some of the shipping companies prefer that the police write them through the Shippers Council and that is why some of the letters for blockage of containers is routed through the Council, not that the Council is conniving with the Police.

He however assured that going forward, the police would issue timely reports of its activities, including interceptions.
He also said that the police share intelligence with other agencies at the ports including the Nigeria Customs Service.

“We cannot stop blocking containers based on intelligence, unless there is an order, either from the President or from the Inspector General of Police” he said.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr Pius Akutah who gave his remarks later in the course of the stakeholders meeting assured all stakeholders that the Council is working with the police to ensure safety and especially security of cargoes at the ports.

Speaking, he said “Our attention was drawn to a report that says that we are conniving with the Maritime Police, and we said No, we can not do that, we can only work together with the Police to enhance the security of your cargoes.

“The police has been cooperating with us very well in this regard, they also have their own mandate and we cannot prevent them from carrying out their mandate, but in that work environment, we must ensure that the safety of your cargo is guaranteed.

“We are not complicating issues for you, we are not putting additional cost to your business.

“Our complaint unit is always up and doing, so many times we receive your complains which we send to them and they immediately work on them. If you have any constraints in your business, the most important thing is for you to report to us and we are equal to the task to work it out with the Police” he stated.

Also speaking, Shippers Council’s Director of Regulatory Services Department, Mrs Margaret Ogbonna urged importers, cleaning agents and freight forwarders to write their petitions through Shippers Council and also to the police in cases on extortion on blocked containers.

She however said that the Council cannot force the Police to stop blocking containers based on intelligence, considering the level of insecurity in the country.

“We shall go through it, please attach evidence and we shall address it. Dont pay any fee, resist paying any fees that is not receipted.

“We cannot take any decision here that any cargo that has been cleared should not be intercepted, it is a sensitive decision to make. The fact that drugs and arms are found in already cleared containers means that the importers, officers are all culpable.

“However, what i would tell you is that Nobody should pay any amount to the police, make your petition through the Shippers Council” she said

Stakeholders who attended the meeting, including the Chairman of Apapa Chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Chief Emeka Chukwumalu took turns to condemn the blocking of containers by the Maritime Police, stressing that the Police must be ready to bear the cost of demurrages accrued in the course of its investigation of containers.

Chairman of National Council of Managing Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents at PTML Terminal, Abayomi Duyile, also said that police is being aided by shipping companies who release cargo manifests to them. He condemned this act, saying that it is an illegality on the part of shipping companies and it is against international best practices.

Other stakeholders who participated at the meeting include; Chief Remi Ogungbemi, President of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), his General Secretary, Sanni Bala Mohammed, Dominic Chukwuemeka, Secretary of Joint Association of freight forwarders, among others.