Contraband: Customs intercept Dangote truck, Tramadol, others

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “A”, the anti-smuggling unit of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted truck belonging to Dangote carrying 1,200 cartoons of smuggled poultry products along Lagos Ibadan Expressway; along 1,442 cartoons of drugs (Tramadol 225/120mg); bales of second hand clothing, used tyres and various general merchandise impounded at various locations within the zone.

CAC of FOU Zone A, Comptoller Mohammed Garba and other officers inspecting seized items

Also, the unit impounded various contraband goods with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of NN200,995,641.8 from June 13 to July 10, 2017 following its promise to give a monthly breakdown of the fight against smuggling.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Controller of the zone, Mohammed Garba, said that the Unit through its intervention recovered N28,954,448 from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that tried to outsmart its officers at seaports, airports and border stations through wrong classification, transfer of value and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the federal government.

He described as a spectacular breakthrough in anti-smuggling operations the figures which cumulate to N229, 950,089.8 in the same month under focus.

Garba disclosed that 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures with 40 different seizures recorded comprising vegetable oil, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled vehicles, medicaments, used tyres and various general merchandise.

According to him, “You will agree with me that the fight against smuggling can only be won if all hands are on deck. The commitment, doggedness, resilience and diligence of officers and men of the Unit for foiling the antics of smugglers who used different methods for concealment, cannot be over emphasized.

“Recently above all was the interception of 1,442 cartoons of drugs (Tramadol 225/120mg) in container number MSKU 98895 1x40ft and a MAN Diesel truck with Reg no. RRU 513XA along Apapa-Oshodi and Ijebu-Ode express ways. Only God knows what would have happened if these drugs get to the wrong hands. In the spirit of inter agency relationship, the drugs will be handed over to NAFDAC for further investigation.

“Following series of infraction on some of the containers intercepted based on information; we have seized seven containers that contravened Customs law by means of false declaration and breach of import prohibition list by trade. While three of the containers carried 5,014 pieces of used tyres, used fridges, used double electric burner, the other containers carried 499 cartons of Eva soap as against poultry incubator declared in the SGD.

“This act of false declaration falls under section 46 (d), (e), (f) of CEMA Cap C45 LFN 2004, which is tantamount to outright seizure. You can see how clearly the government loses revenue to these economic saboteurs. Just yesterday, we intercepted on DAF Truck with Reg No. DAL 543 ZX carrying 1,200 cartoons of smuggled poultry products along Lagos Ibadan Expressway. Similarly, container No. BOMU 588006/6  1X40ft conveying 400 bales of second hand clothing was also seized.