In a recent operation, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has confiscated vehicles and used tires with an estimated value of N813 million.
This operation also led to the apprehension of 12 individuals involved in the illicit importation of these contraband items into the country.
The FOU successfully recovered N81.4 million through thorough document checks and the issuance of Demand Notices (D/Ns).
Customs seizes N813 million worth of goods
These notices were related to cases of underpayment of duty on goods cleared at the nation’s sea ports.
During a press briefing held in Ikeja, the Acting Controller of the Unit, Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, revealed that a total of 91 seizures were recorded in the month of August, and 12 suspects were taken into custody in connection with some of these seizures.
Ejibunu provided a detailed breakdown of the confiscated items, which included 6,911 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to over 11 truckloads), 345 kilograms of Indian Hemp, 486 cartons of frozen poultry products, 368 pieces of used tires, 13 used vehicles (commonly referred to as “tokunbo” vehicles), 32 cartons of expired batteries, one 40-feet container, one used Toyota Corolla, 49 pieces of car rims, 552 pieces of used car tires, 205 pieces of used truck tires, 32 pieces of motorcycle tires, 292 bales of used clothing, and 13,529 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Ejibunu expressed concern over the lack of patriotism displayed by some Nigerian businesspersons, highlighting that they diligently pay all duties and levies required by customs authorities in other countries when importing goods, yet evade such payments to the Nigerian federal government’s coffers.