The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit , Zone ‘A’ , has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a total Duty Paid Value of N3.24 billion.
The Unit also recovered N728.98 million in revenue through its enforcement operations, which focused on under-declarations, false declarations, smuggling and other customs-related offences.
According to the Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu who disclosed this to journalists during a media briefing, the seizures were recorded through intelligence-led operations, enhanced risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted interventions aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economy, boosting government revenue and safeguarding legitimate businesses.
Among the items intercepted were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis, known as Sativa, weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg; and 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg.
The Unit also seized 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, and 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), representing 24,100 litres.
Other items intercepted included 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four 5-litre units each, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres, among other prohibited goods.
Comptroller Aliyu described the revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would continue to identify and recover funds lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other forms of customs fraud.
He urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to ensure that all goods are accurately declared and that they comply fully with existing customs laws and regulations.
He said the NCS remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade but would not hesitate to take decisive action against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of economic sabotage.
According to him, the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, second-hand clothing and other prohibited items would help protect local industries, support food security and safeguard legitimate government revenue.
He added that the seizure of illicit drugs, unregulated pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances would help protect public health and curb the circulation of harmful substances, particularly among young Nigerians.
The recovery of elephant tusks, he noted, also underscores the Service’s contribution to efforts aimed at tackling illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species.
Aliyu attributed the Unit’s enforcement successes to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.
He assured compliant traders that the Customs Service would continue to promote a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, while maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other activities capable of undermining the national economy.
The NCS, through FOU ‘A’, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, promoting compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the entry and circulation of prohibited and harmful goods.
The Unit also appealed to the business community and the general public to sustain their cooperation and provide useful information to customs authorities, noting that collective vigilance and compliance were essential to strengthening revenue generation, border security, public safety and national economic development.
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