Customs intercepts contraband worth N2.8bn in Imo

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The Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone C’, Owerri, Imo State has intercepted contraband goods smuggled into the country worth two billion, seven hundred and fifty-seven million, six hundred and seventy-six thousand, three hundred and ninety naira only Duty Paid Value (DPV) between January 25th to March 25th 2023.

The Ag. Comptroller of the Unit, DC. Kayode Kolade disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Owerri while conducting them around the sized contraband goods at the customs premises.

The DC said that the Unit also recovered the sum of sixty-one million, four hundred and sixty seven thousand, one hundred and nine naira only from demand notice raised on some infractions discovered.

He itemised the list of the impounded goods to include 5 sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413 1kg, 398 sacks of cannabis sativa popularly known as Indian hemp weighing 8,756kg and 1kg 2,308 compressed parcels of the same Indian hemp totalling 2,308kg, 26 cartons of 100mg CMC cough syrup with codeine-containing 2,600 bottles.

Others include 3 units of bulletproof exotic vehicles, 931 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing, 484 bags of smuggled rice, 31 cartons of various medicaments including 4 rolls of ZH tramadol containing 40 packs and 540 pieces of pneumatic tyres and 32 Jerry cans of PMS of 25litres each.

The Ag. Comptroller said that 5 sacks of pangolin scalez weighing 413.1kg and the 11,064kg of Indian hemp are the highest and the first seizure of such endangered species and hard drugs in the history of FOU Zone C’.

He said that Nigeria being a signatory to CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), effort towards combatting the illicit trade on endangered species is to ensure that such animals don’t go into extinction.

According to him, “while the white belly pangolin scales were intercepted along Benin- Lagos expressway, the 398 sacks and 2,308 parcels of Indian hemp were intercepted at Ewu-Auchi road and Asaba/Onitsha expressway respectfully.

He said that “2x40ft containers number: MRSU 135969/6 and MAEU 356823/5 carrying 518 bales, and 392 Jumbo bales of used clothing mostly concealed in heavy-duty trucks, and buses were intercepted along Benin/Okada axis and Umeikaa/Aba Road respectively.

Kolade said that the 26 cartons of cough syrup with codeine, and 31 cartons of unregistered medicaments including tramadol was all intercepted along Asaba/Onitsha Expressway while the 484 bags of 50kg each of the foreign parboiled rice were intercepted along the Benin-Okada expressway.

According to him three exotic armored vehicles without customs documents and End User Certificate was intercepted along patani/Bayelsa/PH expressway and Okada/Benin Expressway along side two Toyota Land cruiser 2022 models and One BMW 2022 model.

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