Customs FOU ‘A’ Intercepts N3.24bn Smuggled Goods, Recovers N729m Revenue

 

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion, while recovering N728.98 million in lost revenue.

 

The seizures and revenue recovery were recorded through intelligence-led operations, risk profiling, compliance checks and targeted interventions against suspicious and fraudulent declarations, according to a statement issued by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi, on behalf of the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’.

 

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

The Unit also seized 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of 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 containing four 5-litre units each.

 

Other intercepted items included 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres, among other prohibited and smuggled goods.

The Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the N728.98 million revenue recovery as encouraging, stressing that the Unit would continue to identify and recover government revenue lost through under-declaration, false declarations and other forms of customs fraud.

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

 

He, however, assured compliant traders that the Unit remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade, while warning that decisive action would be taken against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of economic sabotage.

 

According to the Unit, the interception of foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, foreign-used vehicles, used clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, support national food security and safeguard legitimate government revenue.

 

It added that the seizure of illicit drugs, unregulated pharmaceutical products and other controlled substances would contribute to protecting public health and preventing the circulation of harmful substances, particularly among young Nigerians.

 

The recovery of the elephant tusks, the Unit noted, also reinforces the Customs Service’s role in efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.

 

Aliyu attributed the successes recorded during the period to enhanced intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration, intelligence fusion and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.

 

He stressed that the Unit’s enforcement activities were being carried out within a balanced framework that combines effective border enforcement with trade facilitation.

 

The Comptroller assured compliant traders of the Service’s commitment to creating 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.

 

He called for sustained cooperation from the business community and the general public, noting that collective compliance and vigilance remain critical to consolidating gains in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and national economic development.

 

The NCS, through FOU ‘A’, reiterated its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives by protecting domestic production, promoting compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the entry and circulation of prohibited and harmful goods.

 

The Unit also acknowledged the support of sister agencies, border communities, stakeholders and members of the public whose intelligence and cooperation contribute to its enforcement operations.