Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A has seized 6,168 pieces of donkey skin, weighing 29,606 kilogramme and other contraband valued at N8.9 billion in Oyo, Ogun states
Also, it said on Friday that 37,630 sachets of Tramadol of 250 mg, 11,820 pieces of new machetes, 4,740 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 978 kg of Cannabis saliva were intercepted in July 2024.
The Customs Area Controller of FOU Zone A, Comptroller Kola Oladeji noted that 14 smugglers were arrested in connection with the 70 seizures.
Oladeji stressed that 1,145 cartons of poultry products, 15 units of imported vehicles, 257 bales of used clothes, and 11,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were made in the period.
He explained: “As we approach the last quarter of 2024, which is popularly known as ember months, our intelligence and the past behavioural patterns of smugglers indicate the possibility of more desperation to smuggle.
Because of this, we are taking more proactive measures by confronting them with increased vigour in line with the directives of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
“I can boldly say that the smugglers’ desperation is being confronted with our resistance, causing us to seize their wares and arrest the suspects. On this, we shall remain unrelenting and uncompromising.”
According to him, the service was not unaware of smugglers’ antics to evade duty payments and sometimes attempt to circumvent the law by bringing items that fall under import and export prohibition.
In the month of July 2024, he said that FOU’s reinvigorated anti-smuggling drive had resulted in the arrest of 14 male suspects.
On revenue recovery, he said that the sum of N133.7 million was generated through documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have been short-paid, noting that the entire amount had been paid into the Federation account accordingly.
Oladeji added: “Comparing the month of July 2023 with July 2024, the revenue generated increased by N96,087,133.79 at 245 per cent increase. Our interceptions rose from 50 seizures in July 2023 to 70 seizures in July 2024, with a DPV difference of N7,635,292,324 at a 1,750 per cent increase.
“While the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as Petrol, to Nigerians, some smugglers are bent on taking the products to other countries for their selfish gains. For the avoidance of doubt, this category of smugglers has us to contend with.
The comptroller explained that NCS had disposed the 11,700 litres of PMS through open auctions due to the volatility of the product after approval from the headquarters, saying that the proceeds realised from the auctions had been paid into the Federation Account.
Oladeji said that FOU had uncovered a new method of distribution of these prohibited drugs.
He explained: “The smugglers are now using smaller vehicles for the distribution. Based on credible intelligence, we are able to intercept 35,630 sachets of Tramadol along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
Also, the Cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) was intercepted along the same expressway.
“For the seizure of Tramadol and Cannabis sativa, we are going to hand them over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action in line with existing regulations and in the spirit of interagency collaboration.”