By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, announced the seizure of various contraband items worth N3,636,594,600 within June 2024.
Comptroller Kola Oladeji, in charge of the unit, made the announcement at the Unit’s headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday.
The seized items include 1,500 pieces of bulletproof jackets, 989 kg of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 5,229 cartons of expired drugs, and other contraband items.
Comptroller Oladeji stated that the importation of military wares by individuals is prohibited and requires an End-User Certificate (EUC) for controlled items and products.
Other seized items include 343,750 liters of premium motor spirit, 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 32 units of used motor vehicles, 120 bags of sugar, and 3,560 cartons of poultry products.
Four suspects were arrested for various offenses, including violating import/export guidelines and smuggling.
Comptroller Oladeji warned about the dangers of expired drugs and urged patriotic citizens to provide valuable information to aid in the arrest of illegal importers.
He also encouraged importers and licensed agents to make sincere declarations and adhere to existing guidelines.
The unit recovered N62,017,875.82 in revenue for June 2024 through meticulous documentary checks and the issuance of Demand Notices.