The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion.
The Unit also recovered N728.98 million in government revenue during enforcement operations targeting smuggling, revenue evasion and other customs-related offences.
According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, the seizures included 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, weighing 50kg each and equivalent to eight trailer loads.
Other items intercepted included 12 foreign-used vehicles, 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9kg, 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg and one parcel of crystal methamphetamine.
Customs officers also seized 13 parcels of granular cannabis, 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, as well as 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg.
The seized items further included 24,100 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres, among other prohibited goods.
Aliyu described the revenue recovery as encouraging and said the Unit would intensify efforts to identify and recover government funds lost through customs fraud.
He urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to make accurate declarations and comply fully with customs laws.
“The Unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while taking decisive action against individuals and businesses engaged in smuggling and revenue evasion,” Aliyu said.
The Customs boss said the seizure of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles and other prohibited goods would help protect local industries, support food security and safeguard government revenue.
He added that the interception of illicit drugs and unregulated pharmaceutical products would also help protect public health, particularly among young Nigerians.
Aliyu said the recovery of elephant tusks further demonstrated the Service’s role in combating illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species.
He attributed the seizures and revenue recovery to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency cooperation and information from members of the public.
The Customs Service said it would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other forms of economic sabotage.
Source: Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
