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

By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews

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 Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion, while recovering N728.98 million in lost government revenue.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Hussaini Abdullahi, ANIPR, Chief Superintendent of Customs and Customs Public Relations Officer, for the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos.

According to the statement, the seizures and revenue recovery were achieved through intelligence-led operations involving enhanced risk profiling, rigorous compliance checks and targeted interventions against suspicious declarations and other forms of customs fraud.

Among the items intercepted by the Unit were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; and large quantities of illicit drugs and controlled substances.

The seized illicit substances included 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis (Sativa) weighing 1,439.9kg, 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg, one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg and 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg.

The Unit also intercepted 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg and 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), amounting to 24,100 litres.

Other seized items included 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four 5-litre units each, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres, among other prohibited and smuggled goods.

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

Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to ensure accurate declarations and full compliance with existing customs laws and regulations.

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

The Comptroller said the interception of foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, foreign-used vehicles, used clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, support national food security and safeguard legitimate government revenue.

He added that the seizure of illicit drugs, unregulated pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances would contribute to protecting public health and preventing the circulation of harmful substances, particularly among young Nigerians.

Aliyu further noted that the recovery of the elephant tusks demonstrated the Customs Service’s contribution to the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking and efforts to protect endangered species.

He explained that the enforcement activities of FOU ‘A’ were being carried out within a balanced framework that combines effective border enforcement with trade facilitation.

The Comptroller attributed the successes recorded during the period to enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.

He assured compliant traders of the Service’s commitment to providing a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, while warning that the Unit would sustain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other activities capable of undermining the national economy.

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

The Unit also acknowledged the contributions of sister security agencies, stakeholders, border communities and members of the public whose intelligence and cooperation, it said, had significantly supported its enforcement operations.

Aliyu called for sustained cooperation from the business community and the general public, stressing that collective compliance and vigilance remained critical to consolidating gains in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and national economic development.