Smuggling: Customs FOU ‘A’ intercepts 220 consignments, recovers ₦729m

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value of ₦3.237 billion, while recovering ₦728.98 million in revenue through its anti-smuggling and revenue recovery operations.

The seizures, according to the Unit, underscore its intensified efforts to disrupt smuggling networks, protect domestic industries and prevent revenue leakages arising from false declarations, under-declaration and other forms of customs fraud.

The Public Relations Officer of FOU ‘A’, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, disclosed the seizures in a statement, attributing the successes to enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted operations against suspicious consignments.

Among the major items intercepted were 4,956 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to eight trailer-loads, and 12 foreign-used vehicles.

The Unit also seized a significant quantity of illicit drugs, including 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.

Other seizures included 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 24,100 litres, as well as 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil.

The Unit further intercepted 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres, among other prohibited and smuggled items.

Speaking on the development, the Customs Area Controller of FOU ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the ₦728.98 million revenue recovery as encouraging, saying the Unit would continue to identify and recover funds lost through customs fraud.

Aliyu urged importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to make accurate declarations and comply with extant customs laws and regulations.

He stressed that the Unit’s mandate was not limited to enforcement, noting that Customs would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while taking decisive action against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling and revenue evasion.

According to him, the interception of foreign rice, poultry products, vegetable oil, used vehicles, clothing and tyres would help protect domestic producers, support national food security and safeguard government revenue.

The Controller also highlighted the public-health implications of the drug seizures, saying the interception of illicit drugs and unregulated pharmaceutical products would help prevent the circulation of substances capable of undermining the wellbeing of citizens, particularly young Nigerians.

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

Aliyu said the enforcement operations were being conducted within a balanced framework that combines robust border control with trade facilitation.

He attributed the seizures to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.

The Controller assured compliant traders that the Service would continue to promote a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, while warning that FOU ‘A’ would sustain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other forms of economic sabotage.

The Unit reiterated its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, promoting compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing prohibited and harmful goods from entering the country.

It also commended sister agencies, stakeholders, border communities and members of the public whose intelligence and cooperation, it said, had contributed significantly to its enforcement successes.