The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, on Wednesday, said it seized smuggled items worth over N2 billion within the last three months.
The seized items include banned items and regulated drugs such as Tramadol, Codeine and Diclofenac, paracetamol injection that were brought into the country without National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approval number, chest and lung tablets, and 13,810 bags of foreign smuggled rice.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, Mohammed Aliyu, area comptroller of the unit, who said the command was motivated to fully pursue the enforcement of the Federal Government’s import prohibition law against drug bandits and smugglers, said the command and it management were recently given recognition by the NAFDAC.
According to Aliyu, the command also intercepted items that include 113 units of exotic vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.4 billion; 600 cartons of codeine syrup valued at N240,000,000; 49 cartons of paracetamol injection with duty paid value of N39,200,00; 13,810 bags of foreign rice with DPV of N190,961,320; Indian hemp; vegetable oil; frozen poultry products; tomato paste; used tyres, among others.
He called on the owners of the seized vehicles to come forward with their proper vehicles documents to claim their vehicles.
“Most of these vehicles were intercepted in the bush; some along the roads while others were intercepted at car mart, through intelligence report. Whoever appears to claim ownership of the vehicle without proper papers or documentation will be arrested and prosecuted,” he warned.
He reiterated that the command would fight tooth and nail in ensuring that smugglers are eradicated. “The command is not sleeping. We are also aware of the tactics of smugglers, and we are ever ready for them.”
Responding to stakeholders call for the removal of FOU from port roads, Mohammed said the unit has made considerable number of remarkable seizures by being on the port roads. “If we leave the port road, only God knows what would be allowed into the country.”
He however warned that Customs would henceforth start intercepting trucks and vehicles used for the smuggling, and would be confiscated and auctioned.
