Customs Strike Force seizes N7.4bn goods, arrests four in H1 2022

The Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force, Zone ‘A’ on Wednesday said it intercepted contraband goods worth N7.4billion with four suspects arrested in the first six months of 2022.

Coordinator of the Strike Force team Muhammed Sani Yusuf, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos, said the team within the review period also recovered N3.1billion through issuance of demand notices on imported goods following discoveries of short payment of duties by importers.

He said the feat was achieved through enhanced 24hour, round the clock patrol and provision of new  additional patrol vehicles.

Notable among the seized items recorded within the review period  he said, was the seizure of over 8,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, which is equivalent to 13 trucks.

Other items seized include 1/40ft container of Tramadol, Sildenafil citrate, 1613 bottles of 100ml Codeine, 1079 bales of secondhand clothing, 3,695 pieces of used tyres, 966 slabs of Donkey skin, 77,760 pairs of new ladies shoes, 5,250 pairs of used shoes and 197 logs of wood.

He said, “My team has been able to raise the anti-smuggling battle with enhanced 24hour, round the clock patrols leading to seizures of smuggled items.

“Our operational capacity received a big boost with additional new Toyota Hilux vehicles from the Comptroller-General of Customs, which provided support for suppressing smuggling, prevent revenue loss, protects environmental degradation, unlawful wildlife poaching and in all, protect the national economy.

“Specifically speaking, importing what we can produce threatens our economy; unlawful felling of trees degrades the environment and promotes deforestation while illegal killing of wildlife creatures and endangered species like pangolin and donkeys for their scales and skins respectively, could lead to these animals extinction.

“With these and other tasks under our purview, we shall remain resolute and unrelenting to arrest perpetrators, seize prohibited items from them or their accomplices, and  promote lawful trade using the legal instrument of the extant Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP 45LFN.

“We made seizures worth a total duty paid value (DPV) of Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand, Seventy Five Naira (₦7,432,596,075), with four arrested suspects in connection with some of the seizures during the period under review.

“Through our meticulous checks on import documents, we were able to recover the sum of Three Billion, One Hundred and Forty Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Nine Naira (₦3,140,758,599) through issuance of demand notices; this was done sequel to our discoveries of short payment of duties within the period of six months. This amount would have been lost, but for our vigilance and uncompromising disposition in the discharge of our duties.

“Within the same period in 2021, a total collection of One Billion, Eight Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety One Naira (₦1,808,316,391) was made, which shows an increase of One Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Two Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Eight Naira (₦1,332,242,208) representing 73% of revenue increase.

“I want to use this opportunity to reiterate that our efforts for the second half of the year is already invigorated, and we shall ensure that smugglers and enemies of our economy have no hiding place within our area of responsibility.

DC Yusuf advised importers, agents, haulage operators and the entire business community operating in the South West to keep themselves abreast with the import and export prohibition lists and guidelines, saying ignorance of the law is not an excuse.