The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it seized goods with total Duty Paid Value of N 1,035,232,046.13 in February 2018.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the Unit, Comptroller Muhammad Uba disclosed this while briefing journalist in Lagos about the unit’s activities.
According to him, some of the goods which included: vehicles, bags of foreign parboiled rice, cartons of frozen poultry products and others were intercepted along Ijebu Ode expressway while some of the vehicles were evacuated in a car mart located in the Lekki area of Lagos.
"In the month of February 2018, we have been able to intercept various contraband with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,035,233,046.13only.
The seized items include: 18 assorted vehicles, with DPV of N303,422,034.49, 4,201 bags of foreign parboiled rice 50kg each, with DPV of N51,825,344.04, 1,333 bales of second hand clothing, DPV of N132,688,000, 2,619 cartons frozen poultry products, with DPV of N15,714,000", he said.
He also said that the unit led by Assistant Comptroller Mutalib Sule, raided an apartment in Ikeja Lagos and evacuated some prohibited goods.
"Remarkably within the month under review the Warehouse Operations Team led by AC Mutalib Sule while on intelligence raided an apartment at No. 38, Ogundana street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and evacuated the following. 55 sacks of Pangolin Shells weighing 2001kg valued at N408,319,317.6, 218 pieces of Elephant tusk weighing 343kg and valued at N85,156,649.96"
He also said that the unit also seized a container with number, CAIU0961053 for false declaration, adding that 17 suspects have been arrested in connection with all the seizures, including a Chinese national, Mr. KO Sin Ying.
Yesterday, and in the spirit of the interagency collaboration the Comptroller handed over the Pangolin Shells and the Elephant tusk to the Nigerian Environment Standard and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Speaking while receiving the seized Pangolin shells and the Elephant tusk, the Lagos state coordinator of Nigerian Environment Standard and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr. Nosa Aigbedion applauded the seizures by the customs.
"We owe the country a responsibility of ensuring a cleaner and better environment. Part of the conventions that we subscribe to internationally is the society conventions under which regulations on items like this comes in", he disclosed.
He however emphasized that animals like Pangolin and Elephant should be preserved.
"A pangolin and an Elephant as animals are expected to be preserved at all times. These are animals that are listed in the schedule ‘A’ of the society convention as those that are approaching extinction. Such animals should not be killed; they should be preserved for posterity. And we owe posterity a duty to ensure that these animals are not killed’’, he stated.
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