Customs FOU Zone C intercepts N1.6bn explosive-making materials, other contraband goods

The Acting Controller of the unit, Deputy Comptroller Kayode Kolade, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the Government Warehouse, Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo state, on Monday said the unit arrested nine suspects in connection with the seizures within July 25 to September 23rd 2023.

Kolade, who frowned at the spate of smuggling in the Zone said that the unit also recovered the sum of N54million from demand notices raised on undervalued goods, making a cumulative sum of N1.634billion within the months under review.

In addition to the 417 sacks of cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp weighing 9,194kg and 627 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each totaling 627kg, and 9 sacks 50kg each of explosives’ raw materials, the customs boss listed other seized products to include 1,329 bags, 50kg each of smuggled foreign parboiled rice ; 5 cartons of DSP Cough Syrup with codeine 100mg containing 1000 bottles ; 1 unit of armored Bullion Van ; 761 jumbo bales of second hand clothing ; 883 cartons of various unregistered/expired medicaments including tramadol; 100 cartons of various wines; 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tyres ; 335 cartons of smuggled foreign tomato paste; 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti.

“The five cartons of DSP cough syrup with codeine, and 883 cartons of unregistered medicaments were intercepted along Benin/Asaba/Onitsha Expressway.

Kolade expressed worry over the smuggling of explosives even as the country continued grappling with the challenges of insecurity. He warned smugglers to desist forthwith in the interest of humanity or have the law to contend with.

“More worrisome is the interception of 9 sacks 50kg each of explosive materials (fertilizer, device cables  and superpower90 chemicals). We all know the security implication if these explosives components get to their destination unchecked. It may interest you to know that Superpower 90 is designed for priming applications and as a column explosive in surface and underground mining and general blasting. The high detonation velocity and the robust nature of Superpower 90 make it an ideal primer for the initiation of column charge. Lets us not just imagine if dynamites and landmines are detonated using these items,”, he said.

He seized the opportunity to congratulate the Ag. Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on his appointment to oversee the affairs of the service describing it as “well deserved considering his pedigree, dedication and commitment to the service”.

“ We will all make sure he succeeds as his leadership style has started yielding positive results in our operations. I thank the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for their efforts so far in providing needed incentives and necessary logistics that aided our performance.

He urged the media to join the Service in the advocacy campaign against the hazard of smuggling to the nation’s economy, and to all well-meaning Nigerians to support the service with necessary intelligence and information that could assist nip in the bud smuggling.

The Controller warned all economic saboteurs who plan to use the ember period for their nefarious acts to have a rethink as the Service will make sure they count their losses adding that “no amount of distraction will stop us from carrying out our statutory responsibilities not even in the face of attacks we encountered this month by some sponsored elements”.