The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, over the weekend, announced that it seized contraband worth N2.87billion between January to March, 2024 and made 29 arrests during the period.
In a chat with newsmen, the Customs Area Controller, Compt Hussein Ejibunu, said the seizures were due to violations of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the federal government Import and Export Prohibition guidelines.
He said the items include; 21 trucks load of foreign parboiled rice, 40 units of used vehicles, 286 cartons of rubber slippers; 1,220 cartons of foreign tomato paste; 2,705 kegs of premium motor spirit; 3,510 pieces of pneumatic used tyres; 330 bales of used clothes and 2,230 kg of Indian Hemp.
Others, he added, are; 1,569 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products; 365 cartons of unmarked drugs; 104 units of Haojuo Motorcycle and 566 cartons of smuggled slippers.
He further stated that the command made a revenue recovery of N305.3million, representing 67 per cent collection of the unit’s target.
According to him, “Seizures recorded in the 1st quarter of 2024 were due to violations of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the federal government import and export prohibition guidelines. While vigorously and relentlessly executing our anti-smuggling campaign, a total of 206 seizures were made worth the sum of duty paid value of N2,877,049,777 while 29 suspects were arrested. Revenue recovery made within the period under review was N305,310,010.44 this represents 67% collection of the N455,202,073.97 revenue target for the year 2024.”
Ejibunu, who bemoaned attack on officers of the unit by smugglers in Oyo State, warned hoodlums to be weary of the legal consequences of their actions when caught.
“Just recently, officers of this Unit were carrying out their legitimate duties when they were being shot at by some armed men suspected to be smugglers along Igbori Village, in Oyo State. Although some of the officers in the patrol team sustained injuries, but the assailants were repelled with superior fire power. Armed non-state actors should beware of the legal consequences of their actions when caught,” Ejibunu stated.
