In a concerted effort to combat smuggling activities within its jurisdiction, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C,’ has made significant interceptions of goods valued at an astounding 1.6 billion Naira (N1,648,494,571.00) in the past two months. This impressive feat comes as the Unit intensifies its mission to curtail illicit trade and safeguard the nation’s economic interests.
The Acting Comptroller of the Unit, DC Kayode Kolade, made this revelation during a press conference held on Monday, September 25, 2023, at the Government Warehouse in Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo State. Comptroller Kolade stated that between July 25 and September 23, 2023, the Unit had successfully seized goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,648,494,571.00. Furthermore, the Unit managed to apprehend nine suspects in connection with these seizures during the aforementioned period.
One of the significant achievements highlighted by Comptroller Kolade was the recovery of N54,244,571.00 through demand notices issued for various infractions. This brought the total cumulative value of seizures to N1,634,794,571.00 over the two-month period.
The intercepted items encompassed a wide range of illicit goods, including 417 sacks of cannabis sativa, commonly referred to as Indian hemp, weighing a staggering 9,194 kilograms, along with 627 compressed parcels of the same Indian hemp, each weighing 1 kilogram and totaling 627 kilograms. Additionally, the Unit seized nine sacks, each containing 50 kilograms of raw materials used in the manufacturing of explosives.
Other confiscated items included 1,329 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, as well as 5 cartons of DSP Cough Syrup with codeine (100mg), comprising a total of 1,000 bottles. An armored Bullion Van was also seized for lacking customs documentation and an End User Certificate.
The Unit intercepted 761 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing, 883 cartons of various unregistered or expired medicaments, including tramadol, 100 cartons of assorted wines, 5,737 used pneumatic tires, 335 cartons of smuggled foreign tomato paste, and 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti.
Comptroller Kolade emphasized that these interceptions were made possible through prompt intelligence and well-executed sting operations. He disclosed that the rice was confiscated along the Calabar/Akwa Ibom axis and the Okada/Benin expressway. Meanwhile, the Indian hemp seizures occurred at Okada-Benin and Ewu-Auchi Expressway. The DSP Cough Syrup and unregistered medicaments were intercepted along the Benin/Asaba/Onitsha Expressway. The armored Bullion Van was apprehended along the Okada/Benin Expressway, while the cartons of wine and tomato paste were seized along the Ewu/Ibilo axis. Lastly, the used pneumatic tires were intercepted along the Cross River waterside and Okada-Benin Expressway.
Expressing deep concern over the smuggling of explosives, especially in the face of the country’s ongoing security challenges, Comptroller Kolade called on smugglers to cease their illicit activities immediately, emphasizing the potential dangers such actions pose to national security.
He warned, “More worrisome is the interception of 9 sacks, each weighing 50 kilograms, of explosive materials, including fertilizer, device cables, and superpower 90 chemicals. We all know the security implications if these explosive components reach their destination unchecked. It may interest you that Superpower 90 is designed for priming applications and as a column explosive in surface and underground mining and general blasting. The high detonation velocity and the robust nature of Superpower 90 make it an ideal primer for the initiation of column charge. Let us not just imagine if dynamites and landmines are detonated using these items.”
Comptroller Kolade seized the opportunity to congratulate the Ag. Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on his well-deserved appointment to oversee the affairs of the service. He commended Adeniyi’s leadership style, which has already yielded positive results in their operations. Kolade extended his gratitude to the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for their support and the provision of necessary incentives and logistics that have enhanced their performance.
Comptroller Kolade called on journalists and all Nigerians to join the fight against smugglers by providing essential intelligence and information that could aid the Service in apprehending those involved in illegal trade. He issued a stern warning to smugglers, particularly during the ember period, stating that no amount of attacks would deter Customs from performing their duties diligently and effectively.
