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By Steve Agbota
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ’C’ has intercepted five sacks of pangolin scales, hard drugs and other contraband items worth over N2.758 billion and arrested 13 suspects.
The Acting Comptroller, FOU ‘C’, Kayode Kolade, who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen during his maiden press conference in Owerri, yesterday, said the Unit also recovered N61.467 million from demand notices raised, based on some infractions discovered, making a cumulative sum of N2.819 billion within the months under review.
Kolade, who assumed office on January 25, said the seizures were among his significant achievements, saying the unit also arrested 13 suspects in connection with the seizures within the period of January 25 to March 25, 2023.
However, he listed other seized contraband to include 398 sacks of cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp, weighing 8,756kg and 2,308 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each, totalling 2,308kg.
“Others were 26 cartons of CMC cough syrup with codeine 100mg containing 2,600 bottles; three units of exotic vehicles all bullet proof; 931 jumbo bales of second hand clothing; 484 bags of smuggled rice; 31 cartons of various medicaments, including four rolls of ZH tramadol containing 40 packs; 32 jerry cans of PMS (25 litres each) and 540 pieces of used pneumatic tyres,” he added.
He said the successes so far recorded were in line with his management mandate which includes: blockage of all revenue leakages, trade facilitation and intensification of anti-smuggling operations at various entry points; seaports, land borders, and airport within the unit’s areas of jurisdiction in the South/South-South/East zone.
“After reviewing and re-jigging our operational modalities based on the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the unit lived up to its responsibility by intercepting various contrabands with a duty paid value (DPV) N2.758 billion between January 25 to March 25, 2023, making it my two month scorecard.
“Similarly, based on our intervention, we recovered the sum of N61.467 million from demand notices raised based on some infractions discovered, making a cumulative sum of N2.819 billion within the months under review.
“Remarkably, the five sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413.1 kilogramme and the 11,064kg of the Indian hemp are the highest, if not arguably the first seizure of such endangered species and hard drugs in the history of Federal Operations Unit Zone C,” he said.
He said the effort towards combating the illicit trade on endangered species is to ensure that such animals don’t go into extinction. Hence, he said Nigeria; a signatory to CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) categorises the scales under absolute prohibition, making its importation or trade illegal globally.
He called for improved serenity and cooperation of all stakeholders and the general public to kindly and humbly comply when stopped for search and show mutual maximum respect to field officers and the Service in general. He promised that his officers would always act professionally while performing their statutory responsibilities based on the approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with a touch of a human face, especially as the festive period nears.
