Customs seize petroleum products, other goods worth N468m in Zone ‘D’
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘D’, said its Operatives have seized N468,341,430 worth of contrabands from September to December, 2022.
The Comptroller, FOU, Musa Ibrahim Jalo, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Zone ‘D’ Headquarters, Bauchi.
Our Correspondent reports that the FOU, comprises the nine states of Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States; with headquarters in Bauchi.
Jalo, stated that the Unit made 60 different seizures within the period including 93,700 liters of petroleum products, comprising 92,479 liters of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol and 1,225 liters of Automotive Gas Oil.
He said that other seizures include four sacks of pangolin shells weighing 165 kilogrammes which are in line with the strategic role of Customs in enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Schedule 6 of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026.
“In an effort to stem the tide against the smuggling of petroleum products considering the present scarcity of the commodity in the nation, the Unit has successfully intercepted 2,209 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (25 litres each), another 149 drums of PMS (250 litres each) and 49 jerrycans of Automotive Gas Oil (25 litres each).
“In summary, the Unit intercepted Ninety Three Thousand, Seven Hundred (93,700) litres of petroleum products.
“In line with the strategic role of Customs in enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is also in line with the Schedule 6 of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026, the Unit has intercepted Four sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 165 kgs.
“Also, 2,326- pieces of used tyres, 441 bales of secondhand clothing and 27 sacks of secondhand clothing were seized in line with schedule 4 of the CET which placed the above items on absolute prohibition on health and safety grounds,” Jalo stated.
He added that “Other seizures made are 3,487 bags of fertilizer. (Controlled measures were placed by the Federal Government in the Northeast to avert the potential danger of its usage by insurgents for the production of explosives) and 675 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice concealed in a petrol tanker.
“Seventeen vehicles as means of conveyance and five units of used imported vehicles, among others. The cumulative Duty Paid Value of all the seized items stood at N468,341,430.”
The Zonal Comptroller said that the seizures showcased were possible as a result of robust information gathering and credible intelligence sharing by other customs units such as the CIU, Customs police, SIS, CGC Strike Force, vigilant and resilient patrol officers of FOU ‘D’, other security agencies and patriotic Nigerians.
According to him, “Our operative’s actions are in accordance with all extant laws as enshrined in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LEN 2004 as amended, particularly section 139 (provisions as to detention, seizure and condemnation of goods) and 158 (power to patrol freely).”
He appealed to patriotic citizens on the need to provide credible information to the service in order to curb the menace of these unscrupulous smugglers who are bent on crippling the economy of the country.