Customs seizes N458m fake drug, foreign rice In Ogun, Lagos

Abiola Seun |

The federal operations unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, yesterday paraded 1200 pieces of compressed Indian hemp worth N12million intercepted from suspected smugglers.

The unit also said It intercepted 1,239 cartons of fake viagra, sexual enhancements drugs woth N409million and smuggled foreign parboiled rice worth N36.4million along the border.

FOU, A is an anti-smuggling unit of the service in the South-West part of the country and is saddled with the responsibility of serving as the last layer for smuggled or under-declared cargoes at the seaports or land borders.

However, taking journalists round the seizures yesterday, the Customs Area Controller of the unit, Compt. Mohammed Aliyu said the cargoes were intercepted on the highway.

Speaking further, he said 2751 bags of rice worth N36.4million and 147 pieces of used tyres worth N1.02million were also intercepted by the unit.

He said, “the duty paid value of interceptions were N458million and we will not relent our effort until smuggling is suppressed to the bearest minimum in the south west.

“You can see, I told you the last time we came for the confrence that smuggling will be suppressed because my officers are on their trail, anywhere they hide we shall get to them.”

It would be recal that last week, the unit intercepted contrabandssuch as vehicles, phamaciticals and foreign parboiled rice worth N1.2billion from smugglers.

The seizures include six vehicles namely, Toyota Tacoma, 2 Lexus ES350, 2 Toyota Highlander and Toyota Hilux with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N242million were intercepted.

Others are 541 cartons of Original chest and lung tablets; 211 cartons of Analgin Injection; 238 cartons of Really Extra Diclofenac; 158 cartons of Double actions Labimol Diclogenac potassium capsules.

Also intercepted are 1698 cartons of Powermantlets, 671 kg of pangolin scales and 5, 226 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice all with Duty Paid Value of N1.01billion.

He said, “Within a week, because of the motivations we just got which made some impact, we have intercepted six cars worth over N242million at various border points and various car mart.”

“The vehicles are Toyota Tacoma worth N47.8million, Lexus ES 350 at N16.5million, Toyota Highlander worth N47.5million and another Lexus ES RX 350L at N34million.”

“Other vehicles are Toyota Hilux with Duty Paid value of N41.6million and Toyota Highlander at N54.5million.”

He however disclosed that some of the vehicles are on detention pending when the owners present documents of payment of customs duties.

“They are on detention pending the provision of proper documents. We detain them, when you bring your proper documents we release it but if you don’t, we seize it. Note that when we flag you we ask for documents and if you provide, you are allowed to go. There are procedures and that’s why they are under detention.

Speaking further on interception of the drugs, the CAC said the truck drivers abandoned the trucks and flee but they are on the trail of the importer.

On rice, he said, “this week we arrested 5,226 bags of 50kg of parboiled rice in a week. A truck carries 600bags and we still have others at the warehouse.