Despite fuel subsidy removal, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, said it intercepted 218,575 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) alongside 580 other seizures of smuggled contrabands with a duty paid value of N4 billion in six months.
The acting Controller of the unit, Hussein Ejibunu, disclosed this, yesterday, at the mid-year media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ejibunu stated that prominent among the 580 seizures were 36,742 of 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice equivalent to 62 trailer loads, some of which were ferried through bush paths using motorcycles and rickety vehicles.
He said other seizures are, 14,015 (7,728) parcels of Indian Hemp; 1,064 bales of used clothing; 450 x 106 kg drums of carbide; 2 x 20 containers of unprocessed wood; 44 units of used vehicles (Tokunbo); 1,448 pieces of foreign rugs; 30 units of used motorcycles; 860 cartons of foreign poultry products and 833 pieces of used tyres.
Ejibunu said 60 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, adding that the federal high courts convicted 11 suspects for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, as well as possession of foreign parboiled rice and Pangolin scales meant for export.
He further disclosed that other smuggling and related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently.
Ejibunu commended the support and synergy of sister security agencies, especially the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Oyo State Command, for the arrest of a notorious suspect that was on the wanted list for the attack on a Customs patrol team escorting exhibits.
He said the unit also recovered N400.5 million in revenue through the issuance of demand notices to complete underpaid duties into the Federal Government coffers that were being evaded by some importers and their agents.
“Our anti-smuggling activities within the first six months of the year resulted in a high volume and value of seizures with some suspects arrested. We also succeeded in preventing the entry of dangerous or harmful substances like illicit drugs into society.
“Also, our anti-smuggling activities have protected our economy and prevented revenue loss, as well as discouraged unlawful activities, especially those that contravene the Customs extant laws,” he said.
Ejibunu warned that, for the second half of 2023, Customs onslaught against smugglers will be fiercer with a renewed determination to uncover them using intelligence-backed enforcement.
He vowed to get recalcitrant traders and their agents arrested and prosecuted in addition to seizing their wares.
Ejibunu urged members of the trading community to embrace compliance and shun any act that would place them on the wrong side of the law.
Ejibunu further advised them to keep themselves abreast of the import and export prohibition lists, noting that claims of ignorance will not suffice as an excuse whenever they are caught.
