The Nigeria Customs Service’s Federal Operations Unit Zone A has said that, in advance of the holiday season, it has bolstered operations in all of the South-West states of the nation. The acting Customs Area Controller in charge of FOU A stated that the unit has apprehended various contrabands with Duty Paid Value of N1bn in November 2022.
He added that throughout the time period under consideration, 14 suspects were detained, 13 were granted administrative bail, and one remained in jail. During the period under review, 14 suspects were detained on suspicion of various offenses; 13 of them were released on administrative bail, while the other one is currently in detention.
Customs seized 2,375 litres of petrol in Kebbi Ogun, 73-truckload of rice in nine months, Chinese drinks, others. Ejibunnu said that within the period under review the unit had been able to raise N43m through issued uncompromising demand notices to collect the detected and identified shortfalls in duty payments.
The FOU A boss also said that the unit had been lawfully confronting smugglers and duty evaders as provided for in the Customs and Excise Management Act. He said, “As the year draws to a close, let me reiterate our warning to smugglers, intending smugglers and their collaborator; that FOU Zone A would watch, remain active and vigilant at all times”.