The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recovered the sum of N5.5 billion from contrabands and fraudulent importers from January to December 2023, the unit has announced.
FOU ‘C’, which covers Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Akwa Ibom states, with headquarters in Owerri, said the figure consisted of intercepted contraband from smugglers worth over N5.35 billion and under-declared imports at seaports worth N152 million.
Top among the seizures within the period under review were five sacks of pangolin scales weighing 413.1kg and 398 sacks of Indian hemp 11,064kg (8,756kg and another 2,308kg compressed parcels of Indian hemp of 1kg each).
They represent the zone’s highest, and arguably the first seizure of such endangered species and quantity of hard drugs in its history, as Compt. Kayode Kolade matched his appointment a year ago with improved anti-smuggling activities.
Also intercepted were 31 cartons of various medicaments, including tramadol, 32 jerry cans of petrol and 540 pieces of used tyres and used clothing.
Between July 25 and September 23, 2023, the zone intercepted cannabis sativa, raw materials for production of explosive devices and other contraband items with DPV of N1.6 billion, while nine suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. In total, the unit seized goods worth over N5 billion in the 2023 fiscal year.
Similarly, the unit raised Demand Notices (DN) worth over N152 million on import under-declarations, thereby raising more revenue for the Federal Government.
Speaking on Compt. Kolade’s exploits, a clearing agent at the Onne Port, Chukwu Okenwa, commended him for blocking revenue leakages, facilitating trade and ensuring that genuine importers are not frustrated after clearing their cargoes.
“Compt. Kolade has been supportive to clearing agents operating at the eastern zone,” he noted. “We don’t have FOU indiscriminately arresting already cleared cargoes from the Eastern seaport.
“The FOU C roadblocks have been reduced; he has streamlined the roadblocks and told us he is more concerned about facilitating trade, as with the agenda of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.”
Another clearing agent, Bright Amaechi, said that within Kolade’s first three months in 2023, “he dealt the first blow to smugglers with the interception of contraband goods valued at N2.8 billion between January 25 and March 25. The unit arrested 13 suspected smugglers during the period.”
Describing him as “one of the finest officers of the service,” Amaechi noted that before Kolade’s deployment to Owerri, he had worked at various customs formations and in different capacities, including as DC in charge of SIFAX bonded terminal in Apapa Port, and D/C B1 Tin Can Island Port, from where he was appointed Ag Comptroller, FOU C.
