SEIZURE GALORE AT FOU ‘A’ AS OLADEJI RAKES IN N1.7 BILLION PROHIBITED ITEMS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
No less than N1.7 billion worth of seizures including dangerous drugs were made by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A in the last one month. The Controller of the Unit, Kola Oladeji disclosed to newsmen in Lagos today.
The operatives of FOU ‘A’ has intensified surveillance of our borders within the south-western states of Nigeria. These onslaught against the activities of economic saboteurs in areas of the service key performance indicators (KPI) which includes revenue generation, suppression of smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade have continued to record significant successes through our on-going operations code named ” Swift Sting Operations” and efforts of other patrol teams. During the period under review, the unit recorded milestones in its anti-smuggling operations. Some of these landmarks achievements comprising eight-two (82) interceptions from the following items:
*Foreign Parboiled Rice = 3, 832 X 50KG bags each equivalent to 7 trailer loads.
27 Units of used vehicles also known as tukumbo vehicles.
*Premium Motor Spirit(PMS)= 494 Jerry cans equivalent to 14,820 litres.
*Used clothing= 27 bales.
*Charcoal = 95 bags.
*3,643kg of cannabis sativa.
*6 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
These seizures have a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of one billion, seven hundred and twenty million, two hundred and fourteen thousand, six hundred and forty-nine Naira (N1, 720, 214,649.00) only.
According to him, the successes recorded so far this year were not made on a platter of gold. It took the painstaking efforts of the officers who spent hours on patrol and surveillance of our borders to achieve these seizures. He reiterate that they will not relent on their oars. Their resolve commitment to tame the activities of illegal trans-border trade and other crime remains sacrosanct.
The unit will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public on social/ economic implication of smuggling as well as performing statutory function of enforcing compliance in line with government fiscal policy.
In line with the dictates of the Nigeria Customs Service of promoting inter-agency cooperation and synergy, the seized 3,643kg of cannabis sativa will be handed over to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.
REVENUE COLLECTION
The unit recovered a total sum of seventy-two million, four hundred and forty-two thousand, five hundred and twenty-six Naira, seventy-three kobo (N72, 442,526.73) only, through issuance of Demand Notices (DN) as a result of irregular declaration of consignments. The unit will continue to enforce the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as it relates to import and export goods to prevent revenue losses.
TRADE FACILITATION
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR dsm fnipr psc(+) since coming onboard has rolled-out numbers of trade facilitation tools to help boost our revenue and grow the economy. Trade facilitation tools such as Time Release Study (TRS), Advance Ruling and the recently launched Authorize Economic Operator (AEO) have increasingly boost investors confidence and efficiency of customs operations. This unit has since keyed into these laudable initiatives of the CGC by collapsing some patrol teams operating within Lagos metropolis. This is aim at removing unnecessary trade impediments and facilitates business friendly environment.
‘Gentlemen of the press, let me at this time appreciate the collaborative efforts of other sister agencies in the fight against smuggling and appeal for their continuous support’.
In conclusion, he thanked the CGC and his management team, officers and men of the Unit, community leaders and partner government agencies who are showing concern and collaborating with the service for the continuous support. He also thanked the media for their objectives reportage on our operations