Seme Customs facilitates N35bn export, rakes in N2.6bn revenue in 5 months

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) said it facilitated 143, 468 metric tonnes of export produce, with Free On Board ( FOB) value of N35. 199billion from January to May 2024.

The command said it also collected a total sum of N2.634 billion revenue within the review period.

Controller of the Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing journalists on the activities of the command at Seme Krake joint border post.

Bomodi said the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) value paid was N174million while a total of 406 SGDs were utilized from January to May 26 2024 for export alone.

He added that the revenue collected within the review period surpasses that of 2023 for the same period by 272%.

Speaking on the command’s anti smuggling activities, Comptroller Bomodi said the Command recorded 474 interception of various contraband items.

He listed the items size to include Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS) 12,448 Jerrycans x 30 liters each which is equivalent to eight tanker loads;
Rice: 6,467 bags of 50kg, which is equivalent to 10 trailer loads and
15 used vehicles.

Others are, “1, 251parcels of cannabis sativa. We note that there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of Cannabis from Ghana and different methods have been used by criminals in their effort to beat our officers all of which has been neutralized.

“Wild animals which include 20 Live Parrots, 2 Honey badgers, 2 Pelican Birds and 404 Live tortoises.

“General Merchandise: 3, 023 items, 149 packages of Codeine and 45 pieces of used tyers.”

The seizures, Bomodi said had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N840 million while a total of18 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

He added, “11 of them were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 4 suspects are still in our custody. Also recently arrested is a notorious smuggler whose reign of terror in this area has come to an end and will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Bomodi said the command has also set up a complaint desk to address issues concerning the molestation of females along the Seme Border corridor.

“We strongly frown at any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stake-holders who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily. Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of the any agency found guilty of molestation of any females on this corridor, ” Bomodi warmed.