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By Steve Agbota
The Seme border command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, disclosed that it intercepted 400 bags of beans worth N61.45 million on the verge of being illegally exported to neighboring Benin Republic.
Speaking to journalists at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, the Customs Area Controller, Seme border, Timi Bomodi disclosed that the intercepted beans would be auctioned to the public as soon as the headquarters of the service gives the Command necessary approval.
Bomodi further stated that the Customs Service Act 2023 outlaws Nigerians from exporting grains out of the country.
“We need to ensure that what is being produced locally stayed within the country before we export and the new Customs Act says that grains can’t be moved out of the country and when it’s done there is a procedure. Which included NXP, CCI, among others and when that is not done, any attempt to do it illegally will face the wrath of the law,” he explained.
Bomodi said the Command was given a target of N7.875 billion in 2024, which represents an increase of over 400 per cent compared to the target of 2023.
“This also translates to a monthly collectible revenue of N656.258 million. In January 2024, the Command collected N643,038 million, while in February, we collected N517,950 million, making it a total of N1,160 billion. This is about 88 per cent of the total expected revenue. The shortfall in expected collections can be attributed to the total aggregate decline in imports occasioned by the high exchange rate,” he added.
On export, he said the Command has processed 184 export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96 MT and an FOB of N13.057 billion, adding that the total amount collected for NESS was N65.337 million, and N24.407 million as export surcharge for previously imported goods.
On anti-smuggling, he said between January and February 2024, the Command successfully made 168 interventions, which resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg (three trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 liters (three tankers equivalent), nine vehicles, 1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149 pkg of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns. According to him, all with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365,888 million.
He said a total of 13 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, six of them were granted administrative bail, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while three suspects are still in our custody.
“At this point, it is important to highlight the importance of the Joint Security Meetings held regularly here at the Joint Border Post. These meetings provide valuable intelligence and opportunities to cross-fertilize ideas about Border management. We note that collaboration holds the key to success in border management that’s why we’ve insisted on information sharing among sister agencies,” he said.
In the same vein, he said the continuous surveillance of the border by the officers and men of the Command has resulted in the interceptions of 400x30liters of PMS equivalent of 12,000 liters with a DPV of N8,347,680 in the early hours of Saturday, March 2, 2024 along the creeks.
He said the PMS seized will be auctioned in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the Service.
“These seizures come on the heels of successes in anti-smuggling activities recorded in 2023, which saw 513 seizures of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, General merchandise, drugs/narcotics, and vegetable oil. Others were $6,000 of fake currency, 15 fake international passports, 10 International Driver’s licenses, and 152 live birds and other endangered species. All with a Duty Paid Value of over N1.212 billion,” he explained.
