Customs FOU Zone A seizes imported rice, india hemp, codeine products, others worth ₦813m in August  ...arrests 12 suspects 

By Adetokunbo FAKEYE 

Nigeria - The Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, within the month of August 2023, has made seizures of 6,911 x 50kg bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (over 11 truck-loads) and other contraband good worth a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of ₦813,058,345, while twelve (12) suspects were arrested. 

The head of the unit, acting Controller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, who disclosed this today, Tuesday, 5th September, 2023, said worthy of note is the seizure of additional cartons of codeine product, making a total of 394 cartons seized within the period under review. 

Notable among other seizures according to Ejibunu are: 345 kg of Indian Hemp; 486 cartons of frozen poultry products; 368 pieces of used tyres; 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo vehicles); 32 cartons of expired batteries; 1 X 40 ft container FTC one used Toyota Corolla; 49 pieces of car rims; 552 pieces of car used tyres; 205 pieces of used truck tyres and 32 pieces of motorcycle tyres; 292 bales of Used Clothes and 13,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

On revenue recovery, Ejibunu said, the sum of ₦81,449,373.38 was made through documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have been short-paid. 

"The attention of the public is hereby drawn to the dangers posed by the importation of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) because of its effect on criminal minded people and our youths. 

"Similarly, the importation of foreign parboiled rice and poultry products is an adversary to the economy of the local farmers. 

"Smuggling of prohibited items such as used shoes, illicit drugs, used clothes and used tyres are giving serious health concerns.

"On our part, we shall continue to partner with well-meaning citizens by soliciting for timely and useful information to curb smuggling", he stated.