The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, reported significant interceptions of contraband goods in July, with a total duty-paid value of N8.9 billion.
Customs Area Controller Kola Oladeji provided details of the seizures during a statement and display of the seized items in Lagos on Wednesday. According to Oladeji, the unit made 70 seizures within the month, including various prohibited items.
Breakdown of Seizures:
– Donkey Skins: 6,168 pieces weighing 29.606 kg
– Tramadol (250mg): 37,630 sachets
– Machetes: 11,820 pieces
– Foreign Parboiled Rice: 4,740 bags
– Cannabis Sativa: 978 kg
– Poultry Products: 1,145 cartons
– Imported Vehicles: 15 units
– Used Clothes: 257 bales
– Premium Motor Spirit (PMS): 11,700 litres
In addition, the unit recovered N133 million through documentary checks and demand notices for short-paid consignments, all of which were paid into the federation account.
Comparative Analysis:
– July 2023: 50 seizures with a duty-paid value of N7.63 billion
– July 2024: 70 seizures with a duty-paid value of N8.09 billion
This represents a revenue increase of N96 billion, or 245 percent, from the previous year.
Arrests and Disposal:
– Arrests: 14 male suspects were detained in connection with the seizures.
– PMS Disposal: The 11,700 litres of PMS were auctioned off due to the product’s volatility, with proceeds paid into the federation account.
Oladeji emphasized that despite the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the availability of petrol, smugglers are continuing to divert it to other countries. He also mentioned that the unit discovered new smuggling methods, including the use of smaller vehicles for distributing prohibited drugs.
The intercepted cannabis sativa will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action, highlighting the unit’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration.
Overall, the Customs unit’s efforts in July underline its ongoing struggle against smuggling and illegal trade activities in Nigeria.
