By ERIC MOORE
THE Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne, Rivers State, said it has generated a total revenue of N550,431,559,598.41 within the past months of 2024.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Area 2 Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, made the disclosure when he briefed journalists on Monday, on the successes recorded by the command after the declaration of State of Emergency on Onne Port by the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi recently.
Comptroller Babandede said the over N550 billion raked in translates to 89 percent of the annual target of N618 billion given to the Command.
Speaking further, the CAC said within the period under review, especially in the area of export, the command processed a total of 2,436,408.33 metric tonnes of goods with a free-on-board (FOB) value of $826,613,015.87.
On the 21 seized containers,
Babandede said their Duty Paid Value (DPV) totals N46,399,119,810; while that for the donkey skin is N441 million.
According to him, the 21 containers laden with illicit drugs pose a serious threat to security and public health.
He said: “In line with the Controller General of Customs Policy thrust of consolidation and collaboration, the Command, working with sister agencies such as NDLEA, DSS, Quarantine and NAFDAC among others in implementing the State of Emergency, has made yet another significant seizure of twenty 40 feet and one 20 feet containers laden with illicit drugs, which pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Then, we have one 20 feet container laden with donkey skin.
“These seizures underscore our unwavering commitment to combating illicit medicine and ensuring the safety of the public.
“The implementation of this State of Emergency by the CGC has proven effective in enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring that we can act decisively against those who seek to undermine our nation’s security.”
The CAC, Area 2 Command, Onne added: “Still on anti-smuggling activities, the Command under my stewardship this year, including these seizures on display, has now made a total seizure of 63 containers comprising of 844 rifles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, over 6,469,253 bottles of 100ml syrup with codeine and over 56,878,900 tablets of 225mg Royal Tapentadol/Tramadol/Tamolx.”
He said that the seized goods were in contraventions of various Customs laws and procedures, adding that the Duty Paid Value of the seizures made so far is N130,562,660,407.
Babandede recalled that the security concerns from the series of seizures of contraband goods made through the Onne Port led to the declaration of a three-month State of Emergency, where the Command was granted the authority to scrutinize all suspected containers, regardless of the presence of their owners.
He, however, noted the proactive approach aims to ensure that no illegal substances can evade detection at the Onne Port and commended various agencies operating at the Port for their cooperation.
Meanwhile, Customs has handed the seized goods and containers to various federal agencies for further action.