The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service said it recorded 2,914 different seizures of prohibited goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.1 billion in 2014.
Acting Controller of the unit, Deputy Comptroller Turaki Usman said in a statement yesterday in Lagos that the amount represents more than 50 percent increase from the DPV of 1.5 billion the unit recorded from seizures in 2013.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Turaki said they comprised 58, 611 cartons of frozen poultry products with a Duty Paid Value of N316million. 104,941 bags of 50kg parboiled rice and 869 bags of 25kg parboiled rice worth N921million.
He said the Unit also effected 445 different seizures of assorted vehicles totaling 579 units of fairly used vehicles and 95 scraps with a DPV of N451million.
The Customs boss said the unit has not only fine-tuned its operational codes by impounding such products but has also blocked the identifiable supply chains.
He advised those still engaging in smuggling to desist from it and look for genuine means of livelihood, warning that the unit will continue to do everything possible to bring down the nefarious activities of smugglers in the zone.
The Controller thanked the Customs management for their support and encouragement which he said gave the unit the necessary impetus to achieve the feat.
He also commended the officers for their resilience during the year under review noting that part of his strategy would be intensive patrol activities aimed at identifying some of the flashpoints through active collaboration with patriotic Nigerians and genuine informants
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