Customs seizes military camouflage, 5,481 bags of rice

Customs seizes military camouflage, 5,481 bags of rice

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Ikeja, Zone ‘A’, said yesterday that it intercepted 68 pieces of military camouflage and nine trailer loads of 50kg bags of foreign rice. This, it said, was part of efforts to secure the country and protect the national economy.

Area comptroller Hussein Ejibunu said 11 suspects who specialised in the importation of prohibited and harmful goods were arrested in connection with the seizure, with four of them jailed by the Federal High Court.

Items seized by the unit include 5,481 x 50kg bags of foreign rice; 47,750 litres of premium motor spirit; 68 pieces of military camouflage; 314 used tyres; 11 used motorcycles; 13 used vehicles and 450 x 106 kg drums of carbide that has been put on detention.

Ejibunu added: “These goods were intercepted along the border corridors of the Southwest for contravening different custom laws. The Federal High Court had convicted three people for smuggling.

“In continuation of our anti-smuggling drive and protection of revenue loss, this unit had re-strategised its operations and re-injected new schemes to tackle the economic menace caused by recalcitrant importers and agents. We have harnessed our human resources and logistics for the prevention of economic sabotage.

“The seizures recorded in January 2023 are a reflection of officers’ commitment to duty, and no compromise posture in the discharge of our statutory responsibilities; aimed at protecting the national economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful goods.” 

According to the Ejibunu, the total duty paid (DPV) value of the seized goods is N517,918,790, while N86,117,398.50 was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.