The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion and recovered N728.98 million in lost revenue.
The seizures, recorded during intelligence-led enforcement operations, included foreign parboiled rice, illicit drugs, foreign-used vehicles, poultry products, used clothing, tyres, petroleum products and elephant tusks.
According to the Unit, the operations were driven by enhanced risk profiling, intelligence gathering, compliance checks and targeted interventions against suspicious declarations and other customs violations.
Among the seized items 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, weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; and one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg.
The Unit also seized 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg, 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, and 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), representing 24,100 litres.
Other items intercepted included 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four five-litre units each, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 used tyres, among other prohibited and smuggled goods.
The Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, said the N728.98 million revenue recovery was an indication of the Unit’s determination 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 customs laws and regulations.
He said the Unit would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while taking decisive action against individuals and businesses involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of economic sabotage.
The Comptroller said the seizure of foreign rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, used vehicles, clothing and other prohibited goods would help protect domestic industries, support food security and safeguard legitimate government revenue.
He added that the interception 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, according to the Unit, also highlights the role of customs enforcement in supporting efforts to curb illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
Aliyu attributed the successes recorded during the operations to improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration, intelligence fusion and cooperation from stakeholders and members of the public.
He stressed that the enforcement activities were being carried out alongside trade facilitation measures designed to ensure that compliant businesses operate in a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment.
While assuring compliant traders of the Service’s continued support, Aliyu warned that FOU ‘A’ would sustain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling, revenue fraud and other activities capable of undermining the national economy.
He called for stronger collaboration between the Customs Service, the business community, border communities and the general public, noting that sustained vigilance and compliance were essential to consolidating gains in revenue recovery, border protection, public safety and economic development.