…uncovers expired pharmaceuticals, cutlasses, frozen poultry products, others
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted seven illegally imported containers containing cutlasses, frozen poultry products, used clothing, among others, at Apapa port.
The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this in a press statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Usman, on Friday.
Part of the press statement read: “On Thursday, 18 July 2024, the command seized 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying 4,129 packages of frozen hen; 1x40ft container carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceuticals.”
“The duty paid value (DPV) of these seized items stood at N292,244,857.00. It is pertinent to note that this type of importation is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violate section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”
Comptroller Olomu also stated that a combination of intelligence and diligent enforcement led to the seizures, even as he reassured that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination.
He further added that as a working principle, the Command will continually sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of our extant laws as they pertain to false declaration, concealment, under declaration and under valuation.
The Apapa Customs boss reemphasized that the Command under his leadership will continue to enforcing the requirements for sister regulatory agencies like NAFDAC in the case of food and drugs and strict implementation of the end user certificate rules for products that require it from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Meanwhile, he appreciated the continuous support and cordial relationship with government agencies and promised that the seized items will be handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation and regulatory action.
