The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it intercepted 220 consignments of smuggled goods worth N3.24 billion in eight weeks.
The Comptroller of the unit, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, said in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Hussaini, on Monday in Lagos that the seizures included 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg.
He said the unit also recovered N728.97 million in lost revenue through compliance checks and risk profiling during the period.
According to him, the seizures reflected the unit’s commitment to protecting local industries, government revenue and national security as well as combating smuggling and protecting endangered wildlife.
He said that the operations were driven by intelligence gathering, risk profiling and targeted interventions against suspicious declarations.
“Items seized include 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to eight trailer loads of contraband.
“Others are 12 foreign-used vehicles, 686 cartons of poultry products and 414 bales of used clothing,” he said.
Aliyu said that the unit also intercepted 964 jerry cans of petrol totalling 24,100 litres, and 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, and 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis weighing 1,439.9kg.
According to the comptroller, the seizures included 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, 13 parcels of cannabis and 240,000 tablets of Tramadol.
He added that the unit recovered 12,000 tablets of Hypnox, one parcel of methamphetamine and 2,947 pieces of used tyres.
Aliyu also said that the interception of the elephant tusks underscored the unit’s support for wildlife protection and efforts to curb the illegal trade in endangered species.
He said that the seizures would help protect food security, public health and legitimate businesses from unfair competition.
The comptroller urged importers and customs agents to make accurate declarations to avoid penalties and facilitate legitimate trade.
Aliyu attributed the successes to inter-agency collaboration and information from members of the public, assuring that the unit would sustain its zero-tolerance approach to smuggling.
He reaffirmed the commitment of NCS to supporting the government’s economic objectives through effective enforcement, compliance and trade facilitation.
GIK/APA