Customs Impounds Cars, Rice, Cannabis Worth N1.12bn in 6 States
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2, said it has intercepted 1,410 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) worth N30.4 million within a week.
Coordinator of the team, Mohammad Shuaibu, made the disclosure when he addressed journalists at the Customs Training College in Ikeja on Friday.
Shuaibu said that the team intercepted the contraband within their area of jurisdiction, adding that some were intercepted at the creeks.
He added that the team also seized other contraband worth N1.12 billion and arrested five suspects in connection with the various seizures.
The team coordinator said: “In our effort to actualise the mandate of combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, we intercepted some goods for violating various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines, the goods worth, N1.12 billion.
“They were intercepted across the borders of the six states of the South-West geo-political zone.”
Shuaibu further said that the arrested suspects were undergoing investigation and prosecution.
He continued: “Other items seized include: 4,051 bags of foreign parboiled rice; 3,751 Jerry Cans of PMS, 425 cartons of frozen poultry products, 912 pieces of used tyres, 30 sacks of cannabis sativa.
“Thirty units of cars as means of conveyance; seven units of imported (tokunbo) cars; four units of motorcycles among others.”
The coordinator stated that the team also recovered a total of N11.5 million as revenue through the issuance of debit notes on vehicles and other goods improperly imported into the country.
Shuaibu further disclosed that the team intercepted 30 illegal immigrants.
“With the Nigeria Immigration Service as a critical component of the joint border patrol team, we intercepted 30 illegal immigrants suspected to have violated immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the NIS for further investigation and prosecution.”
He warned smugglers to desist from the crimes, adding that they have multiple consequences.
According to him, such effects, “undermining national security through the movements of illicit goods, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, across the international borders, which impacts negatively on the economy by depleting the nation’s revenue base through evasion of duties and taxes.