The Nigeria Customs Service has seized 56 containers containing contraband worth N5.53 billion at the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne Port, Rivers State.
Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said on Tuesday that the consignments, comprising 45 containers of vegetable oil, nine containers of used clothing and two containers of foreign tomato paste, were falsely declared as machinery and spare parts.
He said the goods were imported through the Onne Free Trade Zone, with the seizures exposing the alleged abuse of concessions granted to free-zone operators.
Adeniyi said the 45 containers of vegetable oil alone had a duty-paid value of N4.25 billion, while the used clothing and tomato paste were valued at N1.045 billion and N232 million respectively.
He said the importers had contravened provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and would be prosecuted after investigations.
Adeniyi said the seizures were aimed at protecting government revenue, public health and local producers from unfair competition.
He also inaugurated the reconstructed Ebubu Health Centre in Eleme Local Government Area, which was renovated by the Customs Area II Command under its corporate social responsibility programme.