By Steve Agbota
The operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of Nigeria Customs Service on Friday said it intercepted 21 truckloads of rice, 2,705 kegs of premium motor spirit and other contraband worth over N2.877 billion while 29 suspects were arrested in the first quarter of the year 2024.
Showcasing the seizures to newsmen, the Area Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Hussein Kehinde, said that other seizures include 40 units of used vehicles, 286 cartons of rubber slippers, 1,220 cartons of foreign tomato paste, 3, 510 pieces of pneumatic used tyres, 330 bales of used clothes, 2,230 kg of Indian Hemp, 1,569 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products, 365 cartons of unmarked drugs, 104 units of Haojuo Motorcycle and 566 cartons of slippers.
According to him, revenue recovery made within the period under review was N305, 310 billion, which represents 67 per cent collection of the N455.202 billion revenue target for the year 2024.
“Seizures recorded in the first quarter of 2024 were due to violations of various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the Federal Government import and export prohibition guidelines. While vigorously and relentlessly executing our anti-smuggling campaign, a total of 206 seizures were made worth the sum of duty paid value of N2,877,049,777 while 29 suspects were arrested,” he said.
He urged citizens to avoid smuggling, stating that it is a criminal offence against the state.
He pointed out that smuggling impacts society negatively by short-changing the economy through tax evasion, affects public health and safety, distorts the balance of fair business competitiveness, and also serves as an instrument for the achievement of other criminal activities.
He lamented that smuggling can lead to compromised personal safety because it exposes individuals to various risks that include; dealing with dangerous individuals, illegal substances, and working in unsafe conditions.