The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A in Ikeja, has announced a significant haul of seized contraband, including 150 cartons of bulletproof jackets worth N1.687 billion.
The items were intercepted along the Ijebuode-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun state in June.
According to The PUNCH, the Customs Area Controller Kola Oladeji, the bulletproof jackets, which are under absolute prohibition for individual importation, did not have the required end-user certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Oladeji explained that each carton contains 10 packs of the jacket, adding that these contrabands were seized in June.
He explained that under Schedule 4 of the Customs Common External Tariff, the importation of all kinds of military wares by individuals is under absolute prohibition.
“An end-user certificate is required for the importation of controlled items and products into Nigeria and it comes from the Office of the National Security Adviser,” Oladeji said.
Oladeji vowed that the unit is working on credible intelligence to get the importers of these contrabands.
“These seizures were unique because it was a breach of security, no end-user-certificate.
“Because you get the certificate before you can bring your cargo and if you bring it after importation we would arrest you,” he said.
The CAC said the unit also intercepted kilograms of cannabis sativa and expired drugs within the period under review.
“Our dedicated officers also intercepted 989kilograms of cannabis sativa and 5,229 cartons of expired drugs,”
According to him, some of the interceptions took place at various times and locations within the South-Western States.
“Other items seized include, 343,750 liters of premium motor spirit, 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 32 units of used vehicles, 120 bags of sugar, 3,560 cartons of poultry products,” the CAC said.
The CAC stated that four suspects were arrested in connection with the various offenses, “including violating import/export guidelines, concealment, wrong classification, smuggling, and contravening policy directives,”
He disclosed that the cumulative duty paid value of the various intercepted goods amounts to, N3.6bn.
Oladeji said that the unit also recovered the sum of N62m as revenue for June 20024 through documentary checks and the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate duties.
He urged Nigerians to provide the service with useful and timely information that would lead to the arrest of illegal importation of military wares, illicit drugs, and counterfeit goods.
“Importers and licensed agents are also urged to make sincere declarations, adhere to existing import and export guidelines, and avoid the risk of losing their goods,” he said.
