Customs seizes N3.24bn contraband, recovers N729m revenue

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’) in Ikeja-Lagos, has seized 220 shipments of illicit and contraband items valued at a total Duty Paid Value of N3.24 billion and has reclaimed N728.98 million in lost revenue.

The confiscations, documented during intelligence-driven operations, comprised 4,956 bags of imported parboiled rice, 12 pre-owned foreign vehicles, 2,683 packages of synthetic cannabis totalling 1,439.9kg, 240,000 Tramadol tablets, and 12,000 Hypnox tablets.

The unit additionally seized 24,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 686 cartons of imported chicken goods, 414 bales of second-hand apparel, 2,947 used tires, foreign vegetable oil, 22 elephant tusks totalling 130.84kg, and various other contraband things.

Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, leader of FOU ‘A’, announced on Monday that the N728.98 million revenue recovery exemplified the unit’s endeavours to address discrepancies stemming from under-reporting, fraudulent declarations, and various customs malpractices.

He implored importers, exporters, and authorised customs agents to provide precise declarations and adhere to customs procedures, cautioning that the unit would continue its enforcement against smuggling and revenue avoidance.

Aliyu stated that the seizure of prohibited food items and other imports would aid in the protection of domestic enterprises, bolster food security, and preserve lawful government revenue.

He stated that the confiscation of illegal medicines and pharmaceutical items will safeguard public health, while the retrieval of elephant tusks bolstered initiatives against unlawful wildlife trafficking.

He asserts that enhanced intelligence collection, risk assessment, and cooperation with affiliated agencies were key to the unit’s recent enforcement achievements.