Apapa Customs Intercepts Seven Containers Of Poultry Products, Expired Drugs, Others Worth N292.2 Million
By Asuquo Nuwak
In line with the Comptroller-General of Customs policy thrust of zero tolerance for smuggling, the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has successfully intercepted seven containers which fall short of the import prohibition guidelines from entering the country.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this while showcasing the Command’s recent exploits in the area of anti-smuggling activities to Journalists and other stakeholders in Apapa, Lagos, recently.
The breakdown of the seized items included 2×40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlass and machete, 2×40ft containers carrying 4, 129 packages of frozen hen, 1×40ft containers carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second hand clothing, and 1×40ft containers carrying expired pharmaceutical products, with a Duty Paid Value DPV of N292, 244, 857 .00
According to Comptroller Olomu, “it is important to note that this type of importation is against scheduled 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violate section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
In the words of Comptroller Olomu: “We are also 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”.
At the end of the press briefing, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, used the opportunity to reiterate the earlier warning given by the Comptroller-General of Customs on smuggling of prohibited items and restate that this Command will keep ensuring that only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through this port either as import or export cargoes.
He finally disclosed that, these seizures would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.
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