Customs FOU ‘A’ seizes contraband worth over N10bn in 2023

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Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, overseeing Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has revealed that the unit seized 1,119 items with a cumulative duty-paid value of N10 billion in 2023. 

These seizures included rice, vehicles, marijuana, tramadol, used tires, poultry products, footwear, petroleum products, and more.

Mr Ejibunu shared this information during a press briefing held at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja on Wednesday.

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He said most prominent of the seizures is foreign parboiled rice, which amounted to 139 trailer loads (83,170 bags of 50kg). Other seizures include 13,706 kegs of 25 liters PMS; 8,372 kg of Indian Hemp; 2,942 pieces of tires; 2,153 bales of used clothes; 3,095 cartons of frozen poultry; 320 cartons of illicit drugs; 15 pieces of bulletproof jackets; 15 pieces of jack knives; 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.

Mr Ejibunu cautioned smugglers to refrain from assaulting officers and emphasized that anyone attacking Customs personnel would face the full force of the law. 

He also pledged to enhance efforts in combating smuggling within the zone throughout the year, affirming that the unit would persist in making seizures, arrests, and prosecuting individuals who violate the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

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“Let me put it on record that we shall lawfully arrest and prosecute any individual involved in the attack of our officers who are discharging their legitimate responsibilities. 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,” he emphasised.

Mr Ejibunu highlighted that sixteen individuals were convicted in the Federal High Courts for offenses such as improper importation, assaulting Customs officers, possessing foreign parboiled rice, and possessing Pangolin scales intended for export. 

He mentioned that several other smuggling-related cases in the courts are currently at different stages of prosecution and will be pursued with diligence.

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The unit head noted that “this year 2024, we shall continue, through our legal seat, to follow all pending court cases to logical conclusions.”

In the same vein, the unit said it was able to recover a total of N851,719,905.01 as revenue through meticulous document checking.

“We were able to identify shortfalls in duty payments from which demand notices were issued, and accurate revenue was recovered.”