The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, in 2023 recorded 1,119 seizures with a total duty paid value of N10,395,123,943 and recovered N851,719,905.01 as revenue.
In the year, the Unit made 136 total arrests and secured 16 convictions.
The Unit Controller, Comptroller Kehinde Ejibunu made this known while giving stewardship of the Unit in 2023 at Ikeja on Wednesday, January 10, 2023.
According to Comptroller Ejibunu, “Last year, we made 1,119 seizures worth a total duty paid value of N10,395,123,943; comprising of rice, vehicles, marijuana, tramadol, used tyres, poultry products, footwears, petroleum products etc. The most prominent of the seizures is foreign parboiled rice which amounted to 139 trailer loads (83,170 bags of 50kg).
“Other seizures were 13,706 kegs by 25 litres of PMS, 8,372 Kg of Indian Hemp, 2,942 pieces of tyres, 2,153 bales of used clothes, 3,095 cartons of frozen poultry, 320 cartons illicit drugs, 15 pieces of bullet proof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, and 68 pieces of military camouflage, 450 drums X 106 kg of carbide, 1 X 40 ft and 2 X 20 ft containers found to contain charcoal and 132 units of foreign used vehicles.
“A total number of 136 persons were arrested at various points within our area of responsibility. They were suspected to be smugglers, and after due diligence of uncompromising of profiling and investigation, they were charged to court and are at different stages of prosecution.
“16 people were convicted through the Federal High Courts for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, being in possession of foreign parboiled rice and for being in possession of Pangolin scales meant for export.
“Some other smuggling related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently. This year 2024, we shall continue, through our legal seat, to follow all pending court cases to logical conclusions.
“The unit was able to recover a total of N851,719,905.01 as revenue through meticulous document checking. We were able to identify shortfalls in duty payments from which demand notices were issued and accurate revenue were recovered. These are revenues that would have been lost by the federal government to the pockets of some uncompliant business men.”
On projection for 2024, Ejibunu has this to say: “I want to reiterate that our battle to prevent smuggling will be intensified this year as we shall not relent in making seizures, arrests and prosecution of criminals who contravene the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. If they don’t desist from their criminal ways, this year will be tougher for them because they will lose their investments and freedom when arrested.
“Let me put on record that we shall lawfully arrest and prosecute any individual involved in the attack of our officers who are discharging their legitimate responsibilities. No attacker of our personnel will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law.”