Customs FOU ‘C’ intercepts Pangolin scales, hard drugs; other contraband worth N2bn…arrests 13 suspects

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ’C’ has announced its interception of  five sacks of pangolin scales , hard drugs and other contraband worth  over N2.7 billion.

The Acting Comptroller, FOU ‘C’, DC Kayode Kolade, disclosed this while addressing newsmen during his maiden press conference in Owerri, on Wednesday.

In a statement, Spokesman of the Zone, Jerry Attah, said that the FOU ‘C’ also recovered the sum of sixty-one million, four hundred and sixty-seven thousand, one hundred and nine naira only (N61,467,109.00) from demand notices raised based on some infractions discovered, making a cumulative sum of over N2.8bilion in the period under review.

The Zone also arrested 13 suspects in connection with the seizures within the period under review (January 25th to March 25th 2023).

Describing the seizures made as a part of his significant achievements, Kolade listed the other items to include: “A total of 398 sacks of cannabis sativa popularly known as Indian hemp weighing 8,756kg and 2,308 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each totalling 2,308kg.

“Other seized items are 26 cartons of CMC Cough Syrup with codeine 100mg containing 2,600 bottles; 3 units of exotic vehicles all bulletproof; 931 jumbo bales of second hand clothing; 484 bags of smuggled rice; 31 cartons of various medicaments including 4 rolls of ZH tramadol containing 40 packs; 32 jerry cans of PMS (25litres each) and 540 pieces of used pneumatic tyres.”

He vowed to continue with blockage of all revenue leakages, ensure trade facilitation and intensification of anti-smuggling operations at various entry points: Seaports, land borders, and Airport within the Unit’s areas of jurisdiction in the south/south-south/east zone.

He said: “After reviewing and re-jigging our operational modalities based on the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the unit lived up to its responsibility by intercepting various contrabands with a duty paid value (DPV) of Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety naira only (N2,757,676,390.00) between January 25 to March 25th 2023 making it my two month score card.

“Similarly, based on our intervention we recovered the sum of Sixty-One Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Nine Naira only (N61,467,109.00) from demand notices raised based on some infractions discovered, making a cumulative sum of Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Million, One Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine Naira only (N2,819,143,499.00) within the months under review.

“ The DPV was derived from our detained and seized goods which include:  five sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413.1kilograme, 398 sacks of cannabis sativa popularly known as Indian hemp weighing 8,756kg and 2,308 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each totaling 2,308kg, 26 cartons of CMC Cough Syrup with codeine 100mg containing 2,600 bottles, 3 units of exotic vehicles all bulletproof, 931 jumbo bales of second hand clothing, 484 bags of smuggled rice, 31 cartons of various medicaments including 4 rolls of ZH tramadol containing 40 packs, 540 pieces of used pneumatic tyres and 32 jerry cans of PMS (25litres each).

“Remarkably, the five sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413.1kilograme and the 11,064kg of the Indian hemp are the highest if not arguably the first seizure of such endangered species and hard drugs in the history of Federal Operations Unit Zone C. Effort towards combatting the illicit trade on endangered species is to ensure that such animals don’t go into extinction. Hence, Nigeria, a signatory to CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) categorizes the scales under absolute prohibition making its importation or trade illegal globally.

“While the predominantly white belly Pangolin scales were intercepted along Benin-Lagos expressway, the 398 sacks and 2,308 parcels of Indian hemp were intercepted at Ewu-Auchi road and Asaba/Onitsha Expressway respectively. Also, a 2x40ft containers number: MRSU 135969/6 and MAEU 356823/5 carrying 518 bales, and 392 Jumbo bales of used clothing mostly concealed in heavy-duty trucks, and buses were intercepted along Benin/Okada axis and Umeikaa/Aba Road respectively. The 26 cartons of cough syrup with codeine, and 31 cartons of unregistered medicaments including tramadol was all intercepted along Asaba/Onitsha Expressway.  The 484 bags of 50kg each of the foreign parboiled rice were intercepted along Benin-Okada expressway. The three exotic armored vehicles without customs documents and End User Certificate intercepted along patani/Bayelsa/PH expressway and Okada/Benin Expressway include two Toyota Land cruiser 2022 models and One BMW 2022 model. 540 pieces of used pneumatic tyres were also intercepted along Ihiala/Onitsha road and Cross River waterside.”

According to the Comptroller, all the interceptions were made based on credible intelligence as his officers and men maneuvered to beat the system from colleagues within the Southwest zone.

He described the seizures as a further affirmation of the determination of the Service to enforce all laws, relating to the importation and exportation of goods into and out of Nigeria thereby contributing to the economy, security, and wellbeing of the Country.

“Only God knows what will happen if these items especially the hard drugs get to their destinations unchecked considering their security implication. The interception of these items and other previously related seizures further justify why you see our field operatives on surveillance patrol along our highways within our areas of jurisdiction as empowered by sections 158, 149, and 150 of Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004 which allows Customs officer to patrol freely, Search Vehicles and Persons respectively.”

He called for improved serenity and cooperation of all stakeholders and the general public to kindly and humbly comply when stopped for search and show mutual maximum respect to field officers and the Service in general.

He promised that his officers would always act professionally while performing their statutory responsibilities based on the approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with a touch of a human face especially as the festive period nears.

He attributed the success so far recorded to the leadership approach of the customs service, and used the opportunity to thank  journalists for their level of synergy, while urging them to join the Nigeria Customs Service in the advocacy campaign against the peril of smuggling to the Nation’s Economy.

He used the occasion to appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to support the service with information that could assist it to perform its statutory responsibilities in the interest of the nation.