Customs FOU ‘A’ Seizes N3.24bn Smuggled Goods, Recovers N729m Revenue

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion, while recovering N728.98 million in revenue.

The seizures, made through intelligence-led operations and enhanced risk profiling, included foreign parboiled rice, used vehicles, illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products, petroleum products, poultry items, used clothing, tyres and elephant tusks, among other prohibited goods.

The Unit said the operations were targeted at curbing smuggling, preventing revenue leakages, protecting local industries and ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s customs laws.

Among the items seized were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads.

Customs also intercepted 12 foreign-used vehicles, 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis, also known as Sativa, weighing 1,439.9kg, and 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg.

Other illicit substances recovered included one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg and 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg.

The enforcement operation also led to the seizure of 240,000 tablets of Tramadol and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, both of which are controlled pharmaceutical products.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, reinforcing the agency’s involvement in efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

The Unit further seized 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), representing 24,100 litres of petroleum products.

Other items recovered included 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four five-litre units each, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres.

The Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, described the N728.98 million revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would intensify efforts to identify and recover government revenue lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other forms of customs fraud.

Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to make accurate declarations and comply fully with existing customs laws and regulations.

He said the Unit remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade but would continue to take decisive action against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of economic sabotage.

According to the Comptroller, the interception of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, foreign-used vehicles and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic manufacturers and producers, support national food security and safeguard government revenue.

He also said the seizure of illicit drugs and unregulated pharmaceutical products was important to protecting public health, particularly among young Nigerians, from substances capable of causing serious harm.

The recovery of the elephant tusks, he added, demonstrated the Customs Service’s contribution to national and international efforts to tackle illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.

Aliyu stressed that the enforcement activities were being conducted within a framework that sought to balance border protection with trade facilitation.

He attributed the latest successes to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration, intelligence fusion, as well as the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.

The Comptroller assured compliant traders that the Service would continue to work towards creating a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment.

He, however, warned that the Unit would sustain its zero-tolerance policy towards smuggling, revenue fraud and other activities capable of undermining the Nigerian economy.

The FOU ‘A’ further reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, promoting customs compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the entry and circulation of prohibited and harmful goods.

The Unit also acknowledged the contribution of sister security and enforcement agencies, stakeholders, border communities and members of the public whose intelligence and cooperation have supported its operations.

Aliyu called for stronger collaboration between the Customs Service, the business community and the general public, noting that sustained vigilance and compliance were necessary to consolidate gains in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and economic development.