Customs FOU Zone ‘A’ impounds N23.6bn contraband in 2018

Sokoto Customs
Illustrative picture. PHOTO CREDIT: SHIPS & PORTS archive

The  Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos on Thursday said it impounded contraband goods worth N23.6 billion in 2108.

The unit’s spokesman, Jerry Attah said in a statement that 220 vehicles valued at N4.74 billion, 5,956 parcels of narcotics/Indian Hemp weighing 16,459kg, valued at N4.74 billion and 18 containers of timber valued at N90 million were intercepted during the period. Other seized items, according to him, include one 40ft container of scrap metals valued at N10 million, 3718  cartons of medicaments such as tramadol, chaka pain, codeine, rally extra of 1000 pack valued at N303.4 million, 498 and half sacks of  Pangolin shells and 224 packs of elephant tusks, valued at N12.9 billion, 7,375 bales of second-hand clothes valued at N763.7 million and general merchandise valued at N308.2 million.

Attah said the unit also seized 88,530 bags of 50kg rice and 51 bags of 25kg rice valued at N651.9 million as well as 12,119 cartons  of frozen poultry products valued at N96.9 million.

He said N693.8 million was raked through the issuance of Demand Notices (DNs) on vehicles and other general goods that had previously been cleared from the airports and seaports but found to have been under-declared.