The Area 2 of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said, it has intercepted seven containers of contraband goods worth over N3bn in the last six months.

The command also disclosed that it generated N243 billion between January and June 2024

Customs Area Commander, Area 2 Command Onne, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, disclosed this on Friday in Onne.

He said the revenue generated amounts to over 50 per cent of the initial target of N494bn given to the Command by the Federal Government.

Describing the seized items, Babandede said four 20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics with a duty-paid value of N911,520,011.00 and two 400 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of codeine cough syrup, 80 cartons of Sildenafil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with duty paid value of N 2,250, 654,000.

He also said one container laden with expired and banned second-hand electronics was also seized.

The Comptroller said that the seizures were made based on intelligence gathering and collaboration with sister agencies such as alongside physical examination, adding that the seized items contravene the import prohibition guideline and section 55 sub-section (1) paragraphs (c) and (I) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

Babandede said Investigations are still ongoing to arrest owners of the containers and bring them to book.

On the generated revenue, he said: “The Command was initially given a target of N494 billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago to N618 billion as revenue target for year 2024.

“As of the end of May 2024, the Command had generated a total revenue of N249b which translates to 50.4 per cent of the initial target and 40.3 per cent of the current annual target.

“When compared to the same period last year, the Command had an increase of N153b.”

He said that despite the NLC strike, Democracy Day and Salah holidays, the Command has generated N43.4b.

He expressed hope for the continued rise in revenue generation in the coming months adding that the command would surpass the annual target by the end of the year.