The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 11 containers loaded with timber and unprocessed wood valued at $296,000 on the verge of being smuggled out of Nigeria.
Disclosing the details to newsmen, the Customs Area Controller of the Lilypond Export Command, Compt. Jibola Odusanya, listed the particulars of the containers as follows: TRLU9354677; MRKU9991028; MSKUS051480; MRKU7071648; TCLU2179830; MSKUS894593; MSKU3929849; GAOU2550990; MSKU7323470; and MSKUS953248.
He stated that the illegal exports were intercepted at the barge area of Apapa Port on October 11, 2024.
“Acting on credible intelligence, a combined team of the Lilypond Export Command officers and officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), following the discharge of some export-bound containers at the barge area of Apapa Port on October 11, 2024, intercepted and detained these containers suspected to be used for smuggling.
“A total of 11 units of 20-foot containers fully laden with rough/sawn timber have been seized. This consignment is estimated to have a market value of $295,944.00. The LEXC on November 1, 2024, scheduled the suspected containers for a 100 per cent physical examination, and they were found to contain raw and processed timber, which contravenes Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff.
“Going by the provisions of Sections 148, 149, and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the detained containers are hereby being converted to seizures.”
Compt. Odusanya emphasised that the seizure would serve as a deterrent to anyone or any exporter planning to smuggle restricted items out of the country.
“I reiterate that we have a resolve not to sacrifice compliance on the altar of trade facilitation, as we shall always prevent the export of any consignment that runs in conflict with the laws of our country.”
“While we are yet to apprehend the culprits behind this criminal act, we expect these seizures to serve as a deterrent to any person or export trader planning to perpetuate a similar offence. I assure you that the long arms of the law would catch up with anyone who dares our resolve.
“This further underscores the CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling, even in the area of export. It goes further to confirm our alertness with the support of other units within the service and sister government agencies to detect and prevent criminal activities in the area of export.”
“I want to use this opportunity to, once again, urge our small, medium, and large-scale exporters to take advantage of our easy processes and window of opportunities provided by the Federal Government to encourage export trade. We shall continue to engage our partners and stakeholders as mandated by the CGC, following the theme of the World Customs Organisation for 2024.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then