To further deepen the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi’s policy thrust of zero tolerance for smuggling, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of seven containers that fall short of the import prohibition guidelines, saying they were barred from entering the country.
The command seized 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying 4,129 packages of frozen hen; 1x40ft container carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceutical on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Briefing journalists, it said the duty paid value (DPV) of the seized items stood at N292.2 million, adding: “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.
Customs Area Controller, B.O. Olomu, stated that the seizures were made following a combination of intelligence and diligent 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 will 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.
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He restated that the command under his watch will continue to enforce 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 Security Adviser (ONSA).
Controller Olomu the CGC’s earlier warning 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.
He commended the continuous existing support and cordial relationship with government agencies and promised that the seized items will be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.
