Customs FOU ‘A’ Issues Scorecard for 2023 with 1,119 Seizures, 136 Arrests, 16 Convictions

…Compt Ejibunu Gives 2024 Projection

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, Lagos has issued its 2023 scorecard comprising of 1,119 asorted seizures, 136 total arrests and 16 convictions.

The Customs Area Controller, Compt Kehinde Ejibunu while briefing newsmen in Ikeja on Wednesday said the unit was also unit was able to recover a total of N851,719,905.01 as revenue through meticulous document checking.

A breakdown of the activities for 2023 are as follows;

SEIZURES

Last year we made 1,119 seizures worth a total duty paid value of N10,395,123,943; comprising of rice, vehicles, marijuana, tramadol, used tyres, poultry products, footwears, petroleum products etc. The most prominent of the seizures is foreign parboiled rice which amounted to 139 trailer loads (83,170 bags of 50kg).

A breakdown of other seizures is given below
13,706 kegs by 25 litres of PMS
8,372 Kg of Indian Hemp
2,942 pieces of tyres
2,153 bales of used clothes
3,095 cartons of frozen poultry
320 cartons illicit drugs
15 pieces of bullet proof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, and 68 pieces of military camouflage
450 drums X 106 kg of carbide
1 X 40 ft and 2 X 20 ft containers found to contain charcoal
132 units of foreign used vehicles

ARRESTS

A total number of 136 persons were arrested at various points within our area of responsibility. They were suspected to be smugglers, and after due diligence of uncompromising of profiling and investigation, they were charged to court and are at different stages of prosecution.

CONVICTIONS

16 people were convicted through the Federal High Courts for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, being in possession of foreign parboiled rice and for being in possession of Pangolin scales meant for export.
Some other smuggling related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently. This year 2024, we shall continue, through our legal seat, to follow all pending court cases to logical conclusions.

REVENUE

The unit was able to recover a total of N851,719,905.01 as revenue through meticulous document checking. We were able to identify shortfalls in duty payments from which demand notices were issued and accurate revenue were recovered. These are revenues that would have been lost by the federal government to the pockets of some uncompliant business men.

2024 PROJECTION

I want to reiterate that our battle to prevent smuggling will be intensified this year as we shall not relent in making seizures, arrests and prosecution of criminals who contravene the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. If they don’t desist from their criminal ways, this year will be tougher for them because they will lose their investments and freedom when arrested.
Let me put on record that we shall lawfully arrest and prosecute any individual involved in the attack of our officers who are discharging their legitimate responsibilities. No attacker of our personnel will be spared from facing the full wrath of the law.

APPRECIATION

On behalf of the officers and men of this unit express our profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, and members of the management team, compliant traders within our zone and you our friends from the media for all the publicity you have helped us achieve in educating Nigerians on the dangers of smuggling.