7 CONTAINERS OF CUTLASSES, DRUGS, POULTRY PRODUCTS WORTH N292.2 MILLION SEIZED BY APAPA COMMAND
At least seven containers of prohibited items worth more than N292.2 million have been intercepted by the premier Apapa command. Area controller of the command Dr Babatunde Olomu disclosed this to newsmen today.
On Thursday, 18 July 2024, the command seized 2x40ft containers carrying twelve thousand (12,000) pleces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying four thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine (4,129) packages of frozen hen; 1x40ft container carrying three hundred and sixty-eight (368) jumbo bales of used second hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceutical.
The duty paid value (DPV) of these selzed items stood at two hundred and ninety-two milon, two hundred and forty-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven naira (292,244,857.00). It is pertinent to note that this type of importation is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violate section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The Customs Area Controller, BO Olomu, stated that the seizures were made
following a combination of intelligence and dligent enforcement in ensuring that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination.
He further added that as a working principle, the command wil continually
sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of our extant laws as they pertain to false declaration, concealment, under declaration and under valuation.
He reemphasized that the command under his leadership will continue to enforcing the requirements for sister regulatory agencies like NAFDAC in the case of food and drugs and strict implementation of the end user certificate rules for products that require it from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Securty Adviser (ONSA).
The command’s helmsnman reiterated the earlier warning issued by the CGC
on the smuggling of prohibited items and restated that the Apapa command
will keep ensuring only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through the port either as import or export cargoes.
Finally, the Controller appreciated the oontinuous existing support and cordial relationship with government agencies and promised that the seized items will be handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation and regulatory action.
As part of the Comptroller-General of Customs policy thrust of zero tolerance
for smuggling, the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has successfully intercepted seven (7) containers that fall short of the import prohibition guidelines from entering the country.