As part of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi’s policy of zero tolerance for smuggling, the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully intercepted seven containers that fall short of the import prohibition guidelines from entering the country.
On Thursday, 18 July 2024, the command seized 2x40ft containers carrying twelve thousand (12,000) pieces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying four thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine (4,129) packages of frozen hen; 1x40ft container carrying three hundred and sixty-eight (368) jumbo bales of used second hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceutical.
The duty paid value (DPV) of these seized items stood at two hundred and ninety-two million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven naira (292,244,857.00).
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller B.O. Olomu, who made the disclosure in a press briefing on Friday, said it is pertinent to note that this type of importation is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violates section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He stated that the seizures were made following a combination of intelligence and diligent enforcement in ensuring that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination.
Olomu added that as a working principle, the Command will continually sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of its extant laws as they pertain to false declaration, concealment, under declaration and under valuation.
He re-emphasised that the Command under his leadership will continue enforcing the requirements for sister regulatory agencies like NAFDAC in the case of food and drugs and strict implementation of the end user certificate rules for products that require it from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The CAC reiterated the earlier warning issued by the CGC on the smuggling of prohibited items and restated that the Apapa Command will keep ensuring that only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through the Port either as import or export cargoes.
Finally, he appreciated the continuous existing support and cordial relationship with government agencies and promised that the seized items will be handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation and regulatory action.
