Seme Customs exited over N15 billion export goods in nine months.

…intercepts contrabands worth over N886 million within same period.

Segun Oladipupo

The Seme command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday stated that it intercepted contrabands worth One thousand two hundred and forty four (1,244) smuggled items with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eight hundred and eighty six million, four hundred and twenty eight thousand, one hundred and sixty three Naira forty one kobo (N886, 428, 163.41) only between January, 2021 and September of the same year.

The Command added that it collected the sum of seven hundred and eighteen million, eight hundred and twenty eight thousand, five hundred and twenty nine Naira eighty five kobo (N718, 828, 529.85) only as revenue during the period under review.

The Command within the period, said it processed and exited exported trade volume of six hundred and thirty five thousand, one hundred and forty nine, twenty three (635, 149.23) Metric Tonnes, with the Free On board (FOB) value of fifteen billion, five hundred and sixty four million, one hundred and thirty thousand, five hundred and eighteen Naira, nine kobo (N15, 564, 130, 518.09) only, and the NESS value of seventy eight million, two hundred and three thousand, seven hundred and seventy nine naira, eighty one kobo (N78, 203, 779. 81) only.

Under ETLS, the Command treated and exited one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314) trucks of goods under the scheme.

Explaining some of the items seized, the command said in July, 2021, it made a huge seizure of three thousand, one hundred and eighty six (3,186) parcels of cannabis sativa concealed with sharp sand along Badagry-Seme road.

“Furthermore, in our last press conference, the Command handed over two hundred and thirty two (232) parcels of cannabis sativa to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Special Command Seme.

“Securing our borders is a collective responsibility; the Nigeria Customs Service ensures inter-agency cooperation and coordination among all the other security agencies at the border. The agencies work together towards a common purpose in making sure our borders are free from crimes, therefore, the Command is handing over the said seized substance including other seizures of same cannabis to NDLEA with combined total of three thousand four hundred and forty seven (3, 447) parcels for the period under review.

“The street values of these items were estimated to be ninety eight million, nine hundred and eighty three thousand, eight hundred and thirty six naira, forty kobo (N98, 983, 836.40) only.

“Similarly, the reinvigorated Command’s drive against the smuggling of premium motor spirit (PMS) has recorded tremendous achievements. During the period under review, ten thousand, three hundred and nine (10,309) jerry cans of PMS twenty five (25 litres each), this is equivalent to eight (8) trailers tankers load of thirty three thousand litres each.

“Other seizures made within the same period under review include;
Rice= 10,706 bagsX50Kg each,
NPK Fertilizer= 44bags
Frozen Poultry Product= 608 cartons, Cigarette= 784 rolls,
Smuggled vehicles=109  Units,
Vegetable oil= Eleven (11) jerry cans of 25 lires each, Tomatoes paste= 843 cartons, Used Shoes= 605 pairs and twelve (12) sacks.

“Used clothes= seventeen (17) sacks and seven (7) bales
Used tyres= 19 pics
Herbicides= 153 sachets
Different drugs =1419 packs and other general merchandise.
Out of the total smuggled vehicles intercepted, thirty seven (37) are presently in court awaiting condemnation.

On revenue, the command lamented the Benin Republic economic policies affected the revenue drive of the Command as all goods transiting through Benin were mandated to pay some duties and levies by the government of Benin Republic which is contrary to ECOWAS protocols and international transit agreements.

“Nevertheless, the Command collected the sum of seven hundred and eighteen million, eight hundred and twenty eight thousand, five hundred and twenty nine Naira eighty five kobo (N718, 828, 529.85) only as revenue during the period under review.

“In addition to that, the Command processed and exited exported trade volume of six hundred and thirty five thousand, one hundred and forty nine, twenty three (635, 149.23) MT, with the Free On board (FOB) value of fifteen billion, five hundred and sixty four million, one hundred and thirty thousand, five hundred and eighteen Naira, nine kobo (N15, 564, 130, 518.09) only, and the NESS value of seventy eight million, two hundred and three thousand, seven hundred and seventy nine naira, eighty one kobo (N78, 203, 779. 81) only, during the period under review. Under ETLS, the Command treated and exited one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314) trucks of goods under the scheme.

“The Grand total for both seizure and revenue during the period under review is One billion, Six hundred and five million, two hundred and fifty six thousand, six hundred and ninety three Naira, twenty six kobo (N1, 605, 256, 693. 26) only,” it stated.

The command while appreciating the cooperation of stakeholders, border communities, security agencies, among others, the Area Controller acknowledged the support of the Comptroller General of Customs and the management team as well as the patriotism and commitment of officers of the command.