ILLEGAL EXPORT: Lilypond Customs Command Intercepts 11 Containers of Timber Worth $296,000
The Lilypond Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted 11 containers, laden with rough/sawn timber, on the verge of illegal exportation
Estimated at a street value of Two Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-four US Dollars ($295,944.00), the consignment, all in 20ft containers, was intercepted at the barge area of Apapa Port on October 11, 2024.
The Lilypond Customs Area Controller (CAC), Compt. Ajibola Odusanya, made this disclosure at a press briefing, at the Apmoller Terminal in Apapa on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
According to him, the seizure was made, following credible intelligence by a combined team of the Lilypond Export Command officers and officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), on the export bound containers, suspected to be used for smuggling.
The Lilypond Export Command (LEXC), according to CAC Odusanya, on November 1, 2024, scheduled the suspected containers for hundred percent physical examination, and were all found to contain raw and unprocessed timber, which contravened Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET).
He listed the particulars of the 11 containers asTRLU9354677,MRKU9991028,
TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2543324, MSKU3929849, MSKU7323470, MSKU5953248, and GAOU2550990.
Quoting Sections 148,149 and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the CAC said the “containers are hereby being converted to seizures”, adding that, even though no arrest had been made in connection to the criminal act, “we expect these seizures to serve as deterrent to any person or export trader planning to perpetuate similar offence”.
He, however, expressed the CGC’s zero-tolerance for smuggling, even in the area of export, saying, “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”.
The Lilypond Customs Controller assured that the long arms of the law would definitely catch up with anyone that dares the command’s resolve.
Urging small, medium and large-scale exporters to take advantage of the Customs easy processes and window of opportunities, as provided by the Federal Government to encourage export trade, Compt. Odusanya that, “We shall continue to engage our partners and stakeholders, as mandated by the CGC, following the theme of the World Customs Organization for 2024 and that of the recently held 2024 Comptroller General of Customs Conference”
He noted that the command is dedicated to overseeing export trade, following which it had brought a lot of improvements in support of the Federal Government’s drive to promote non-oil export.
“It is important 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”, Compt. Odusanya maintained.
