Customs impounds N3.3bn smuggled items in one month

Abiola Seun

The Federal Operations unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, on Wednesday said it recorded a total of 144 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.3 billion in June 2021.

It said the seizures were being smuggled into the country through unapproved routes by criminal minded businessmen who, according to him, are hell bent in sabotaging the nation’s economy.

Customs area controller, FOU, Zone A,  Usman Yahaya, said this yesterday in Lagos.

Yahaya while giving a breakdown of the seizures said it includes 14,789 bags of 59kg rice, 727 cartons of unregistered drugs, 2,784 cartons of frozen poultry products, 28 units of smuggled used vehicles, 116,000 litres of petrol (4649 jerricans), 237 bales of second hand cloths, six sacks of secondhand clothing, 20 cartons of Tramadol, 885 prices of used tyres, 10,400 cartons of alcohol beverages, 84 different kinds of vehicles laden with 50kg bags of rice and 5×29 ft containers of semi processed woods.

He said 28 units of exotic cars valued at N258.61 million were also seized within the same period.

He wondered why someone would risk smuggling a car of over N50 million through the land borders, knowing full well that it would be seized.

“The period under review, recorded a total of 144 seizures with a Duty Paid Value of N3.3 billion. We also arrested 23 suspects in connection with the seizures. Out of the 23 suspects, 12 have secured administrative bail, while 11 are still in our custody. Two of the suspects had attempted to smuggle in cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp.

“From the foregoing, you will all agree that smugglers are undaunted in their nefarious activities to cripple the economy with the magnitude of the seizures showcased. With the series of seizures, one would have expected a reduction in their activities.