The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted seven containers carrying expired pharmaceuticals, 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes, and 4,129 packages of frozen chicken imported into the country.
The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this on Friday, noting that the seizure was made on Thursday.
Olomu stated that the seizures have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of approximately N292.244 million. He emphasized that these actions are in line with the Comptroller-General of Customs’ policy of zero tolerance for smuggling.
“The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has successfully intercepted seven containers that fall short of the import prohibition guidelines from entering the country,” Olomu said.
He detailed that the expired drugs were imported from India, the cutlasses and machetes from China, and the frozen chicken from Turkey. Olomu pointed out that such importations violate Schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
“These seizures were made following a combination of intelligence and diligent enforcement in ensuring that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination,” he explained.
Olomu reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining and improving trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of laws related to false declaration, concealment, under declaration, and undervaluation. He also highlighted the enforcement of requirements for sister regulatory agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the strict implementation of the end-user certificate rules for certain products from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the earlier warning given by the CGC on the smuggling of prohibited items and restate that this command will keep ensuring that only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through this port either as import or export cargoes,” Olomu stated.
He concluded by stating that the command would hand over the seized items to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.
