Tin Can Island Customs Intercepts 2,594 Ammunition, Rakes N574billion Revenue

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Compt Kunle Oloyede, Tin Can Customs Area Comptroller

…60 Suspects Arrested

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday announced the interception of 2,594 pieces of ammunition and 20 pieces of arms, 763kgs of Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) and as well generated about N574.290 billion revenue in 2022.

The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Compt Adekunle Oloyede disclosed this during a press briefing on the performance of command for the year 2022.

According to him, the Command increased surveillance on declarations made in order to sniff out improper declarations as well as offending items, adding that this paid off with the Command recording a total of 38 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.846 billion.

According to him, the seizures comprise 763kgs of Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) weighing 345.1kg with a street market value of N714.600 million only as given by the NDLEA, saying the Command arrested 60 suspects in connection with Colorado and other offensive items.

He said 2,594 pieces of ammunition and 20 pieces of arms intercepted comprising of one Pistol with 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm, one used Co2 Air Pistol with accessories cal 117(4.5m)BM, one Marksman repeater pistol, and Mace pepper gun and 10 suspected arms of various Types.

Others include; 5 x 40 Containers of used Motor Tyre (5050 pistes), 1,150 Bales of second hand clothings, 1,190 Cartons of 20per Cartons of Possuem Bromate and Baking Powder, 11,392 Cartons of 1200 per Carton Armcol Injection Chiproquine Phosphate 322.5mg/5ml (IV and IM), 206,000 pieces of finished matchets, 1383 cartons of 50 rolls per carton of cigarettes, 650 cartons of 50 pieces per carton of new ladies shoes, 2.666 pieces in 36 pallets of new starter ex-premium inverter battery, 1980 cartons of assorted non-alcoholic beverages and 1048 cartons of Tilde Basmatic bice, others,” he said.

However, he said the seizure record when compared with the 2021 record of 27 seizures with a Debit Note (DN) of N607.267 million only, which shows an increase of 11 seizures and N1.239 billion only.

He noted that the increase in DPV rate could be associated with increased surveillance and intensified anti-smuggling drive, high value of seized items and the Naira-Dollar depreciation which leads to high exchange rate on imported items.

“These prohibited items were seized and forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with the provision of sections 46 and 161 of the Customs & Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004 and Absolute Prohibition List of CET 2022 2026.

The Command pertinently acknowledges the prominent roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, Valuation Unit, FOU, CGC Strike Force as well as interventions of Sister Regulatory Agencies like the NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigeria Police and others in ensuring these seizures and detentions were made.

A total of 60 suspects were detained in 2022 and were granted administrative bail while the Command has 8 cases pending in court,” he said.

On the N574 billion revenue recorded between January and December, 2022, he said the figure when compared to the N493. 682 billion collected in 2021 indicated an increase of N80,607 billion, adding that the figure represents a percentage increase of 16.33 per cent over the previous year’s revenue collection.

Meanwhile, he said this feat could be attributed to the constant re-jiging of the existing measures geared towards sustaining the Command’s revenue profile as well as utilisation of some disruptive strategic measures such as periodic capacity building, reshuffling and redeployment of officers using the SWOT analysis, implementation of the VIN Valuation, Automation of the 546 procedure among others.

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