Customs FOU ‘A’ shatters smugglers’ circles, impounds contraband with over N2.055 bn DPV

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… Arrests 8 suspects connected
with 25 seizures

Comptroller Mohammed Uba, and other officers of the FOU ‘A’ briefing newsmen

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ has in the
last two weeks recorded massive seizures of various contraband with duty paid value
(DPV) of over N2.055 billion.

Comptroller Mohammed Uba told newsmen at a briefing on Wednesday that in
giving the suspected smugglers a chase for their acts, the Unit was able to
impound sacks of Pangolin scales, elephant tusk.

Other seized items are bags of parboiled rice of 50 kg each, Indian hemp
in packs, cartons of tramadol capsules, cartons of codeine, used vehicles, used
bags and shoes as well as vegetable oil.

Lamenting the severe impact of illicit drug on society, the Comptroller
Uba said that operatives of the Unit, acting on information, intercepted a MAN
Diesel truck with registration number XB 286 BEN along Afromedia Estate beside Alaba International.

He said the truck was carrying 2,
748 cartons of DSP Codeine cough syrup 100mg(100 per carton) and 95 cartons of
Chaka pain xtra, even as he disclosed that the substance, which is valued at
over N1.1 billion was the second time in a row that the Unit was intercepting such.

Within the period being reported, Uba said the Unit also evacuated 49
cartons of tramadol capsules in 100 mg from a warehouse in Ajao Estate. He
added that “ the drugs will be handed over to NAFDAC for further investigation.”

Also on display among the seized contraband were 1,031 kg of pangolin
scales and four pieces of elephant tusk weighing 29.35 kg that the Unit evacuated
from a shop in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Uba told newsmen that both items( the bags of pangolin scales and the
elephant tusk) have a DPV of over N253.5
million as he recalled that the Minister of State for Environment, Mallam Usman
Jibril accompanied by the CITES Delegates from UN visited the Unit, inspected
the previous seizure of such endangered species this year and even commended
the Unit for a job well done.

The other items confiscated by
the Unit include a Ford transit bus, which was used for conveying 39 sacks and
1,220 parcels of cannabis sativa( also called Indian Hemp) weighing 1,610 kg
concealed with baskets of fresh tomatoes, peppers and leafy vegetables.

The 17 exotic cars under the Unit’s detention have a DPV of over N384
million. The vehicles are 7 Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps(2015-2018), 4 Toyota
Hiace Buses (2017), 2 Toyota Coaster Buses(2017), and 4 Toyota Camry (2014).

Comptroller Uba disclosed that “While four of the vehicles were
intercepted along Ijebu-Ode Expressway, 13 were evacuated from House Plot 1,
Akintailor Close, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, based on credible information,
and eight suspects were arrested in connection with these 25 seizures.”