Maritime
Customs Intercepts Goods Worth N80.8m
The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS), Ikeja, said on Wednesday that it impounded 393 assorted contraband goods
estimated at N80.8 million in August.
Mr Uche Ejesieme, the Public Relations Officer of the unit,
stated this in an interview with the newsmen
in Lagos.
According to him, the
seizures of the goods were more than the 331 recorded in the same period in
2011. Adding that 256 seizures were
recorded in July.
“The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ is statutorily vested
with the responsibilities of suppressing smuggling in all ramifications. We
also provide security to the commands under the zone.
“In August this year, we‘ve recorded a total number of 393
seizures of various contraband goods, including vehicles.
“And the value of the seizures is put at N67,627,810 and the
payable duty is N13,207,624 and the duty paid value stand at N80,845,434 with a
total number of 34 suspects and most of the suspects have been charged to court
and some of the cases are pending at the Federal high court.’’
Ejesieme said that the Area Controller, Mr Dan Ugo, had been
trying to reduce smuggling activities based on the directives of the
Comptroller-General of Customs.
“Don’t forget that the smugglers, sometimes tend to be ahead
of you in terms of planning because they also have their own information. But
what we do is to be two steps or three steps ahead of them.
“That is why, on our part, we’ve strived to deploy further
strategies in ensuring that we track some of these smugglers and part of the
strategies is the use of intelligent network because the controller is an
expert in risk management and risk planning and cargo selectivity.
“He is also an expert in post-clearance audit and also an
expert in corporate governance.
“So all these has given us a kind of comprehensive advantage
and that is why I believe the CGC and his management decided to send a square
peg in a square hole in ensuring that these assignments are carried out.’’
He said that the unit was determined to ensure that the
incident of smuggling was reduced to bare minimum.
“We are also particular about poultry products because you
will also recall that with reference to the circular that came from the CGC and
management for the effect that we should ensure zero tolerance for importation
of poultry products.
“In the past months, we’ve arrested and destroyed about
5,000 cartoons of assorted poultry products and this is in line with the
expectations of the service.
“And we are also doing it because we need to protect our
local industries and we also need to ensure that we create jobs and we also
need to educate Nigerians on health implication of some of these things.”
He urged Nigerians to stop smuggling the poultry products
due to the health implication on the consumers.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.