It has been a season of terror for unrepentant smugglers as the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recorded 91 seizures in August alone, and arrested 12 suspects in connection with  the seizures.
Briefing newsmen at Ikeja, the Acting Controller of the unit, Deputy Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, said the 91 seizures, valued at  N813,058,345, was carried out in August 2023, across different states in the South West .
According to the unit’s helmsman, the Command also recovered N81,449,373 as revenue for government.
The Comptroller further gave the breakdown of the seizures as: 6,911 x 50kg bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice over 11 truck-loads; 486 cartons of frozen poultry products; 368 pieces of used tyres; 13 used vehicles; 32 cartons of expired batteries; 1 X 40 ft container FTC; one used Toyota Corolla; 49 pieces of car rims; 552 pieces of used car tyres; 205 pieces of used truck tyres; and 32 pieces of motorcycle tyres.
Other seizures include; 292 bales of used clothes; 13,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirits; and Truckload of seized used tyres concealed with rims.
Ejibunu said the unit has continued to consolidate on its operational plans with a view to ensure that men of the unit are steps ahead of smugglers.
He said the have also institutionalized the concept of customs community relationship, which is meant to provide an enabling environment for smooth operations in some otherwise volatile areas.
“In demonstrating the commitment of the Service towards safeguarding the nation’s economy from recalcitrant saboteurs, officers and men of the Unit have remained resolute in enforcing the Customs extant laws.
“While enforcing these laws, dubious importers and traders were either made to pay the maximum duty payable, through the issuance of demand notices, or made to forfeit their goods to the Federal Government by way of seizing them.
“You may recall that foreign tomato paste, used clothing, foreign parboiled rice, importation of vehicles through land borders, used tyres, arms and ammunition without end-user certificates, among others, are items that fall under the import prohibition list. Their importation threatens our fragile economy.
“The attention of the public is hereby drawn to the dangers posed by the importation of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) because of its effect on criminally minded people and our youths.
“Similarly, the importation of foreign parboiled rice and poultry products is an adversary to the economy of the local farmers. Smuggling of prohibited items such as used shoes, illicit drugs, used clothes and used tyres are giving serious health concerns.
“On our part, we shall continue to partner with well-meaning citizens by soliciting for timely and useful information to curb smuggling, while we advise members of the public to be guided by the Import and Export Prohibition Lists for compliance.
“These seizures recorded within August 2023 have a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of N813,058,345.
“It is sad to note that some Nigerians would pay all duties and levies payable to the Customs authorities of other countries they import from, while they make conscious efforts to evade such payments into the Federal Government coffers.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos