The Nigeria Customs Service’s Comptroller-General Strike Force Team “A” has seized pangolin scales, cannabis sativa, various wines, and other items with a duty-paid value of 1 billion, 9 million, 670, 000 naira.
The Team’s Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller Customs Mohammed Sani, stated that the products were seized between October and November 2022 while showcasing them at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos.
The 376.4Kg pangolin scales had a duty paid value of nine hundred and thirty-seven million, two hundred and thirty-six thousand, and were intercepted at Epe Market with two suspects.
In accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), some animal species are protected from extinction; as a result, pangolins among other animals have been subject to exploitation. Campaigns and sensitization on the poaching of pangolins must be intensified since it plays a dominant role in the ecosystem, thereby protecting the forest flora and fauna, the Custom boss said.
The Customs Special Squad seized a second Toyota Camry that was being transported to the Eastern region of Nigeria and had 40 kg of cannabis sativa worth $3,400,000 stashed in various compartments.
“This Toyota Camry was intercepted along Imeko, the owner of the car said he was traveling to the Eastern part of the Country before it was seized based on intelligence. A total number of one hundred and three wraps were uncovered with some nylons, obviously to repack and sell. The illicit drugs were cleverly concealed in various compartments of the car known as false bottom making it difficult to be seen.” the Customs boss added.
There are so many legal tradespeople who can be involved with, or fall into our Web and face the wrath of the Law. These are drugs individuals take to do horrific crimes, a lot of vices are being perpetrated with the influence of these illicit drugs.
Other commodities seized include 35 Jerrycans of 25 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 1010 bags of 50 kg foreign parboiled rice, 100 cartons of red wine, 58 bales of old apparel, and 100 cartons of red wine.
“We have remained resolute and undeterred at enforcing government’s policies and Customs extant laws in our quest to protect our country from the self-serving endeavors of economic saboteurs, collect money for the Federal Government, and provide security. In tandem with the support provided by the management of the Service under the leadership of Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), our strategies are reviewed to defeat smuggler’s game of concealment, false declaration and underpayment”.
Muhammed Sani continued, “The team prevented loss of revenue through undervaluation, underpayments, and incorrect classification by collecting the sum of five hundred and thirty-seven million, nine hundred and five thousand, three hundred and four naira (N537,905,304) following the issuance of demand notices to defaulters.”
We have made a number of seizures with a total DPV of eight billion five hundred million, nine hundred and three thousand six seventy-three naira N8,500,903,673.00. It would interest you to know that since our resumption to date, we have cumulatively generated N5,254,784,650 when compared with last year’s revenue of N3,588,016,694 with a difference of N1,666,767,956 representing a 32%
“We hope that these seizures, revenue recoveries, and arrests will serve as a deterrent to would-be smugglers and duty evaders,” he said. He reaffirmed the team’s commitment to the ongoing fight against smuggling and the arrest of suspected culprits.