The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone A has announced a significant crackdown on illicit imports, revealing that 91 seizures were made in Lagos during the month of August 2023. These seizures included items such as Codeine, used vehicles, expired batteries, and more, with a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of N813,058,345.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Deputy Comptroller Kehinde Hussein Ejibunu emphasized the dangers of importing Indian Hemp, foreign parboiled rice, poultry products, and prohibited items like used shoes, illicit drugs, used clothes, and used tyres. He urged the public to provide timely information to combat smuggling and adhere to the Import and Export Prohibition Lists.
Furthermore, he highlighted the government’s efforts to recover revenue, with N81,449,373.38 collected through checks and demand notices on short-paid consignments. Ejibunu expressed gratitude to patriotic Nigerians who aided in arrests and compliant traders while cautioning recalcitrant individuals against engaging in smuggling.
Additionally, he acknowledged the support from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who provided essential logistics for seizure evacuation.
He said that 91 seizures were recorded within the month of August 2023 alone with 12 suspects in connection with some of the seizures.
The other seizures according to him are; 394 cartons of Codeine, 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo vehicles) 32 cartons of expired batteries, 1 X 40 ft container FTC, one used Toyota Corolla and 49 pieces of car rims.
Others are; 552 pieces of car used tyres, 205 pieces of used truck tyres and 32 pieces of motorcycle tyres. 292 bales of Used Clothes, as well as 13,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
