The Nigeria Customs Service Ogun I Area Command has reported N28.4 million as revenue generated through import duties, auction sales of scrap vehicles and petroleum products.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Bamidele Makinde, who made this disclosure explained that genuine imported goods were assessed and processed under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS).
He attributed the performance to the Command’s officers and men’s efforts of combating the menace of smuggling in the area which led to the interception of 6,743 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, 19,806 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 18 units of vehicles purposely used for the conveyance of smuggled goods, 64 Sacks of Cannabis Sativa and 824 wraps of book, bread and coconut sizes.
Bamidele listed other seized items as including 29 pieces of artifacts, one unit of motorcycles used for the conveyance of prohibited items, 73 bales of secondhand clothing, 14 sacks of foreign used shoes, 900 pieces of foreign used tyres, and 520 cartons of frozen poultry products.
The Area Controller, who puts the total number of seizures at 115, also explained how the Command achieved the feat through sundry operations carried out at different locations such as Abeokuta axis, Ilaro axis, and Ipokia/Idiroko axis, all with total Duty Payable Value of N231.2 million.
Commenting on the issue of trade facilitation, the Comptroller reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining the existing cordial relationship with the business community based on the operators’ contribution to the nation’s economic growth
He urged traders within the Command’s area of operations to avoid any form of illicit trade that would tarnish their image even as he stressed that smugglers would be made to face the full wrath of the law when apprehended.
