•Arrests 136 suspects, convicts 16
By Steve Agbota
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, said it seized various military hardware, illicit drugs, explosive materials and other contraband worth N10.395 billion in 2023.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, the Area Controller of the Unit, Hussein Kehinde, said that last year, the unit made 1,119 seizures comprising rice, vehicles, marijuana, tramadol, used tyres, poultry products, footwears, petroleum products etc.
He said the most prominent of the seizures was foreign parboiled rice which amounted to 139 trailer loads (83,170 bags of 50kg).
Giving the breakdown of other seizures, he said the Unit seized 13,706 25-litre jerrycans petrol, 8,372 Kg of Indian Hemp, 2,942 pieces of tyres, 2,153 bales of used clothes and 3,095 cartons of frozen poultry.
According to him, others are 320 cartons of illicit drugs, 15 bullet proof jackets, 15 jack knives, and 68 pieces of military camouflage, 450 drums X 106 kg of carbide, 1 X 40 ft and 2 X 20 ft containers found to contain charcoal and 132 units of foreign used vehicles.
He further disclosed that 136 suspected smugglers were arrested at various points within the Unit’s jurisdiction, after which they were investigated, charged to court and currently at different stages of prosecution.
On convictions, he hinted that 16 people were convicted through the Federal High Courts for committing offences of improper importation, assault on Customs officers, being in possession of foreign parboiled rice and Pangolin scales meant for export.
“Some other smuggling related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently. This year, we shall continue, through our legal seat, to follow all pending court cases to logical conclusions,” he said.
He said that the unit was able to recover a total of N851.719 million as revenue through meticulous document checking.
“We were able to identify shortfalls in duty payments from which demand notices were issued and accurate revenue were recovered. These are revenues that would have been lost by the federal government to the pockets of some non-compliant businessmen.
“On our projection for 2024, I want to reiterate that our battle to prevent smuggling will be intensified this year as we shall not relent in making seizures, arrests and prosecution of criminals who contravene the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
If they don’t desist from their criminal ways, this year will be tougher for them because they will lose their investments and freedom when arrested.
“Let me put on record that we shall lawfully arrest and prosecute any individual involved in the attack of our officers who are discharging their legitimate responsibilities. No attacker of our personnel will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law,” he said.
He therefore, expressed the Unit’s profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, and members of the management team, compliant traders within the zone and other stakeholders.