The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Apapa Area Command has recorded a seizure of 97 containers with a duty paid value, DPV, of Naira 7.8 billion between January and November.
The Comptroller of the Customs Area, CAC, of the command, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf, announced this Tuesday in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Abubakar Usman, in Lagos.
Mr. Yusuf noted that the command recorded a seizure of 13 containers with a royalty payment value of N285 million in November.
According to him, among the seized items are hard substances such as Captagon pills, Cocaine, Tramadol, Codeine syrup, Foreign boiled rice, Tomato paste, Used clothing, etc.
“These were seizures made based on a clear violation of sections 46, 47 and 161 of the CEMA (Customs and Special Tax Administration Law) Cap C45 LFN2004,” he said.
Yusuf noted that the command would not sacrifice proper scrutiny on the altar of trade facilitation, and that its officers would not back down from sharing intelligence to alert the system to false statements even after examining or releasing falsely declared items.
“Cover-ups will always be released through the use of the forensic manifest management system and synergy with other sister agencies in the port.
“We appreciate our compliant merchants for complying with the rules of engagement in import and export procedures by adhering to the dictates of the import / export guidelines.
“We would like to warn perpetrators of illegalities that our officers are always on the lookout for any form of illegal trade.
“Let me reiterate our determination to scrutinize all shipments entering and leaving the Apapa port to curb the threat of illicit trade,” he said.
He urged importers of non-prohibited items to make honest declarations, pay accurate taxes and obtain the necessary permits to avoid losing their investments and facing legal proceedings.
Yusuf also said that the Apapa Area Command had raised N89.7 billion in revenue for November, the highest monthly collection by any NCS command.
“In addition, the income profile of the command between January and November stood at N784.8 billion,” he said.
He noted that this feat was the result of better inter-agency synergy, greater trade facilitation, rapid dispute resolution, and prevention of revenue leakage.
He said the command remained steadfast in its determination to contribute to the update of the agenda of the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, in the area of increasing revenue collection and non-engagement for smuggling.
