The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos has intercepted contraband items valued at over ₦3.32 billion in the last three months. These included 250 live turtles, Canadian Cannabis Sativa, and military-grade equipment.
At a press briefing, Customs Area Controller Michael Awe disclosed that the command also achieved remarkable revenue generation, collecting ₦144.2 billion between January and October 2024. This figure marks a 94% increase compared to the ₦74.28 billion recorded in the same period of 2023.
The intercepted goods, brought into Nigeria from countries such as Canada and Turkey between July and October 2024, included 23 walkie-talkies, 175 military helmets, 50 drones, seven packages of Tramadol Hydrochloride (200mg and 225mg), 1.5 kilograms of pangolin scales, and 0.2 kilograms of porcupine quills. Awe explained that these items violated provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items amounted to ₦3.32 billion. Awe commended the command’s commitment to tackling illicit trade through strategic resource deployment, interagency collaboration, efficient cargo clearance, and intelligent risk management systems.
The significant increase in revenue, according to Awe, was attributed to enhanced trade facilitation, improved stakeholder compliance, effective law enforcement, and a more streamlined operational approach. These combined efforts underline the Customs Service’s dual role in preventing smuggling while boosting national economic growth.
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