Customs intercepts N5.5b contraband In Owerri
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C, Owerri, has recovered N5.5 b worth of items from smugglers and fraudulent importers in 2023.
The Guardian gathered that the unit intercepted contraband from smugglers worth over N5.35b and N152m from importers who made under declaration at seaports in the year under review.
The FOU Zone C covered all the states in the South East and South South Region including Bayelsa, Port Harcourt 1 and 2, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Akwa Ibom
Since the appointment of Comptroller Kayode Kolade as the Customs Area Controller of the units smugglers have been losing huge millions of naira to the government on a daily basis.
The contraband seizures are five sacks of pangolin scales; 398 sacks of Indian hemp, weighing 8,756kg and another 2,308 compressed parcels of Indian hemp of 1kg each. The five sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413.1kg and the 11,064kg of Indian hemp are the highest, if not arguably the first seizure of such endangered species and hard drugs in the history of the zone.
Also intercepted were; 31 cartons of various medicaments including tramadol; 32 jerry cans of petrol and 540 pieces of used tyres and between July 25 and September 23, 2023, the FOU Zone C intercepted cannabis sativa; raw materials for production of explosive devices, as well as other contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.6 billion.The Zone also arrested nine suspects in connection with the seizures.
Other items seized are fake pharmaceutical products, tramadol, used vehicles, used tyres, used clothing and explosive raw materials among others.In total, the unit further seized goods worth over N5 Billion in the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) category in the 2023 fiscal year.
Also, in the year under review, the officers of the unit under the leadership of Compt. Kolade, the unit raised Demand Notice (DN) worth over N152m to fraudulent importers, thereby, saving the Federal Government revenue that would have hitherto been lost to fraudulent importers.
However, a clearing agent operating at the Onne seaport, Chukwu Okenwa, applauded Kolade for blocking revenue leakages from the eastern port. He also applauded him for facilitating trade and ensuring that genuine importers are not frustrated after clearing their cargoes from the seaports. Also speaking, Bright Amaechi, said the comptroller has dealt decisively with smugglers on the eastern axis.
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