Nigeria Customs Foils Major Smuggling Attempts: Seizes Illegal Imports Worth ₦292 Million
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has ramped up efforts to thwart the activities of recalcitrant importers of prohibited items. The Apapa Command recently announced significant seizures aimed at curbing the inflow of illegal goods into the country.
In a press briefing held on Friday, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Command, unveiled the latest haul of seized items. The seizures include:
- 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes
- 2x40ft containers with 4,129 packages of frozen hens
- A 40ft container with 368 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing
- A 40ft container of expired pharmaceuticals imported from China
The combined duty paid value (DPV) of these items amounts to ₦292,244,857.00. According to Comptroller Olomu, these importations violate Schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Olomu attributed the successful seizures to a blend of intelligence and diligent enforcement, ensuring rigorous examination of all consignments exiting Apapa Port or any terminal under the Command. “As a working principle, the Command will continually sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of our extant laws as they pertain to false declaration, concealment, under-declaration, and under-valuation,” he stated.
The CAC emphasized the commitment to enforcing the requirements of regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC for food and drugs, and the strict implementation of end-user certificate rules for products requiring authorization from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Olomu made it clear that only consignments meeting the integrity test of compliance, in line with the Controller-General’s strict directive on prohibited items, will be allowed to pass through the port. He also expressed gratitude for the cooperation from sister government agencies and assured that the seized items would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.
This decisive action by the NCS underscores its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders against the influx of illegal and harmful goods.
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