Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A in Ikeja, Lagos, said on Tuesday that it seized rice and other prohibited cargo valued at N854.2mn for January 2024.
Controller of the Zone, Hussain Ejibunu, said that the zone made 60 seizures including foreign parboiled rice, (equivalent to 6.5 trailer loads), 23,025 litres of PMS, 241 bales of used clothes, indian hemp, cartons of foreign tomato paste, used tyres, Haojuo motorcycles, cartons of slippers, and used vehicles.
He said the status of these goods was found to have contravened different sections of the Customs Act (2023) because some were expired at the time of importation; while others flaunted the import statutory guidelines.
Ejibunu said a total of ten suspects were arrested in connection with some of the goods and the sum of N83.14mn was generated as revenue through documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have been short-paid.
The impact of smuggling, according to him, has very serious repercussions on the economy, the environment, health and security so, there is a need for collaboration and strong partnership with other critical stakeholders through sharing of information and intelligence.
He enjoined the general public to be aware of the consequences of smuggling and join in the enforcement and regulatory agencies to curb the menace of smuggling.