Zone ‘D’ Customs make seizes petrol, fertilizers, Pangolin Scales, others worth over N1b in 7 months

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal operations Unit, Zone ‘D’ said it has in the last seven months made seizures of contraband as petroleum products, Pangolin Scales, fertilizers and others worth N1,178,821,033.

Joseph Adelaja, the acting FOU Controller, disclosed this on Wednesday at a media briefing held at the zonal headquarters of the service in Bauchi said the seizure was between January 30 and August 9, 2023.

The FOU, Zone ‘D’, comprises nine states, namely, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa states; with headquarters in Bauchi.

The unit he said made a total of 88 seizures within the period under review, prominent of which are: 174,585 liters of petroleum products and nine sacks of Pangolin Scales and Claws weighing 396.4kg.
Others, according to him, are: 1,800 bags of sugar (50kg) each, 343 bags of fertilizer (UREA/NPK), 328 bags of 50kgs foreign parboiled rice, among other seizures.

He said that the feat was achieved in pursuance of the unit’s saddled responsibility of enforcing customs laws, implementing government fiscal policies and suppression of smuggling within the zone.

“In accordance with the strategic role of Customs in enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora which came into being in 1973, in line with Section 55 subsection (1) paragraph (1) sub paragraph (1) of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (NCSA 2023) and also the Schedule 6 of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026, the Unit has intercepted: Nine sacks of Pangolin Scales and Claws weighing 396.4kg.

“Others are: Two live birds (African crowned crane), one live antelope gazelle, one piece of lion bone and a plastic container of lion fat,” he said.

Adelaja further said that in accordance with Section 55 subsection (1) paragraph (c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (NCSA 2023), the NCS operatives intercepted: “88 cartons of insecticides, 342 packs of foreign candy, 190 cartons of flavoured powdered drinks, 23 sacks of used shoes and 1,800 bags of sugar (50kg) each.

“Others are: 343 bags of fertilizer, UREA/NPK, 328 bags of 50kgs foreign parboiled rice, 66 cartons of foreign soap, 50 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 54 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil (25 litres each), three units used imported vehicles, 11 vehicles as means of conveyance and 174,585 litres of petroleum products.

“The cumulative Duty Paid Value of all the seized items stands at N1,178,821,033.”

The Zonal Controller added that the seizures were achieved as a result of robust information gathering and credible intelligence sharing by other customs units such as the CIU, Customs Police, SIS, vigilant and resilient patrol officers of FOU Zone ‘D’.

He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service operative’s actions were in accordance with all extant laws as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA 2023) as amended, particularly section 245 (provisions as to detention, seizure and condemnation of goods) and 226 (power to patrol freely).

Adelaja, called on people of the area to contribute their quota through the provision of credible information to enable the command stem the tide of smuggling and other nefarious activities that run contrary to the vision, the economic recovery of the present administration.