The Nigeria Customs Service said it intercepted 450 drums of calcium carbide enroute to Aba, Abia State from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in January.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Hussein Ejibunu, said this while addressing journalists at the unit on Wednesday.
Ejibunu said that the explosives weighed 106 kilograms each and had a duty-paid value of N24 million.
He put the value of goods seized by the unit since the beginning of the year at N517 million, while N86m was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices for underpaid Customs duties.
“This is calcium carbide about 450 drums weighing 106kg each with street value of N24 million. The status of this is still under detention because the owner said he has an end-user certificate (EUC) for it so we are waiting for the presentation of the EUC. It was intercepted at Ijebu-Ode on its way to Aba,” he said.
The Customs anti-smuggling chief the importer will be prosecuted if he fails to produce the EUC within 30 days.
“It is important we note that this is part of the bye-products for making bombs and with our eagle-eyed officers it is important to note that we have to be going after these things especially those that are under restrictions that some people will use the opportunity to bring them in.
“We have a time frame within 30 days we have a suspect with us, let him get us the necessary documents. As soon as he gets the documents then no problem,” he said.
He also said that the unit seized 68 pieces of military camouflage, 2,135 wraps, of Indian Hemp weighing 1,163kg during the period under review.
“Within the period under review, the command also seized 5,481 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each which is equivalent to over nine trailer loads, 47,750 litres of premium motor spirit, 68 pieces of military camouflage, 314 pieces of used tyres, 11 units of used motorcycles, 13 units of used vehicles,” he said.
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