From January to March 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service Porthacourt II Area Command Onne earned revenue totaling N54, 992, 123, 687.15. Onne Customs Command Comptroller Baba Imam, the Area Controller in charge of Area 2 Command, announced this on Tuesday during a news conference in Onne, Rivers state.
He declared that his Command would hesitate to be ruthless toward those who engaged in unlawful trading and would only show mercy to compliant traders who are ready to conduct business in accordance with import and export regulations.
The comptroller continued, “This figure realized is in spite of not having vessels berth in Onne Port for some time due to the Election atmosphere.”
He also remembered how his men had achieved great success in the battle against smuggling, leading to the seizure of 27 containers, including 26 seized containers and one detained container. The interactions are founded on the breaking of various Customs laws and procedures as specified by the updated import prohibition trade guidelines.
According to Controller Imam, “These seizures and detentions were made based on infractions related to import guidelines, which include: Contraband Goods, False declaration, End-user certificate requirement from the office of the National Security Adviser, and NAFDAC permit/license, among others.”
He continued, “The seized items found in the 24 containers were: 2 containers laden with 1,165 cartons of Analgin injection and Fireworks with other items, 210 cartons of Banga, 273 cartons of W.Tail, 216 cartons of Colored flowers, 180 cartons of Pops and 24,860 gallons of refined vegetable oil with duty paid value of 833,172,538.42.”
“The two (2) containers’ combined duty-paid worth is 94,652,168.39. The 26 seized containers’ combined duty paid worth is 94,652,168.39, according to He days.
He reaffirmed that all of the cartons of Analgin injection that had been confiscated would be given to NAFDAC and added that his command would continue to strengthen its connections with other sister organizations in order to purge society of any criminal elements that were acting against the interests of the nation.
A 20-foot container containing machetes was similarly held on documentation grounds awaiting the provision of an End User Certificate, with the addition that the investigation is still continuing.
