Customs intercepts contraband items worth over N1bn in February

Harboursandport.com: Lagos-- The Federal Operations Unit, Zone “A” of the Nigeria Customs Service, NSC has intercepted various contraband items worth N1 billion this month.  

Fed. Operations Unit, zone A, Comptroller
Mohammed Garba Uba

Disclosing this to journalists at the Units office Ikeja, the Customs Area Controller, CAC of the Unit, Mohammed Garba Uba, said the seized items include: 18, assorted vehicles, 4,201 bags of foreign parboiled rice (about 7 trailer load), 2,619 cartons of frozen poultry products, 1,105 Jerry cans of vegetable oil, 2,637, piece of used tyres 1,333 bales of used clothing, 2,001kg of pangolin, 343kg of elephant tusks among others. 

The 7 trailer load of imported perboiled foreign rice

Mohammed said the 18 vehicles that were intercepted along Ijebu Ode expressway and a car mart in Lekki, includes one Rolls Royce, one Chrysler, one Audi Q7, one Land Rover HSE, one Toyota Venza, one Ford Taurus, one Honda Cross tour, four Mercedes Benz, three Kia Rio and one Escalade; all of which are 2008 and 2015 model.

Mohammed further explained that the value of the vehicles is N303million while the value of the rice is N51 million.

The FOU boss also said 55 sack of Pangolin Shells weighing 200 kilogrammes and valued at N408 million as well as 218 pieces of Elephant tusks weighing 343 kilogrammes, valued at N85 million were  intercepted an apartment in Ikeja, Lagos by a team from the Unit.

He also pointed out that "a 1/20 footer container with No.CAIU0961053 with seized for false declaration which tantamount to seizure. 17 suspects have been arrested in connection with these 90 seizures including Mr. Kio Sin Ying, a Chinese national.

“Within the period under review, we have also recovered N68 million from demand notices raised on goods intercepted while attempting to beat the system through transfer of value and under declaration.

“Recall that the responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service have undoubtedly increased tremendously overtime because of the implementation of different International Protocols and Conventions. The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES 1973) entails that Customs Administration globally protects wild life by intercepting illegal trade on such animals.

“It further prevents the killings of endangered species since the tusks are only available after the killing of an elephant and pangolin. In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the seized pangolin and tusks have been handed over to the Nigeria Environment Standard and Regulatory Enforcement Agency, NESREA, for further investigation in collaboration towards protecting our national habitat,” he concluded.