2022: Customs FOU Zone A, generates N13.9bn, intercepts 656,414 litres of PMS

By Seun Ibiyemi

Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday, said it intercepted 656,414 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol and others goods worth N13.9billon in the year 2020.

In a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect by the unit, the  Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), Hussein Ejibunu, the unit said, “the year 2022 for Federal Operations Unit Zone A, was a period of sustained anti-smuggling onslaught, zero compromise for duty evasion and diligent facilitation of trade.

“The unit also prevented loss of government revenue as our assigned position of being a layer of check uncovered attempts at evading duties. We recovered the discovered shortfalls through issuance of demand notices (DN).

“We did all these at the expense of our lives placing national interest ahead of any narrow or personal gain. It is sad to note that some of our officers paid the supreme price last year when they got killed by smugglers. For us, they are the heroes of the anti-smuggling battle and they will never be forgotten.”

Ejibunu said, “From January 1 to December 31 2022, we made a total seizure of smuggled items worth a duty paid value of thirteen billion, nine hundred and eight million, five hundred and seventy-five thousand, four hundred and thirty-six Naira, five kobo (N13,908,575,436.5).

“Aside protecting the national economy, some of the seizures achieved protection of citizens’ health because dangerous, expired and harmful products were prevented from being smuggled into the country.

“The items seized were foreign parboiled rice, vehicles, drugs, textiles, petroleum products and other items in the import and export prohibition lists.

“In terms of volume, rice topped the list of our seizures. We seized 93,102 X 50kg which a mounts to about 156 trailer loads of rice. Even our newly constructed warehouse had an overflow of seized rice.

“A total number of 108 automobiles comprising of trucks, tankers, cars and motorcycles were seized either as smuggled items or means of conveyance of smuggled items.

“Illicit drugs seized within the year under review are: 2,354 kg and 4,976 tablets of Cannabis sativa, 233 cartons X 225 milligrams, and 82 packs X 225 milligrams of Tramadol. It is pertinent to remind us that these hard drugs fuel crime and insecurity.

“For petroleum products, the Unit seized 656,414 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS); that is, about 20 tanker loads of fuel from economic saboteurs who seek to impoverish the majority of our country people by taking out petrol subsidized for citizens’ benefit to be s old in other countries.

“We arrested 176 smuggling suspects last year, secured 7 convictions, 14 were charged to court and are at various stages of investigation and prosecution, 7 suspects are in detention; 2 suspects were handed over to NDLEA, and 1 suspects was handed over to the Nigerian Police respectively, while 151 are on administrative bail.”

Speaking on a sad note, he said, “Four (4) of our officers namely; Late Inspectors of Customs TP Astor, and A Onwueguzie, and Assistant Inspectors of Customs, Musa, R and Bristol, E lost their lives in active service while confronting smugglers last year. While we frowned at such murderous acts, we also ensured that those behind some of the killings were arrested to face justice.

“As approved by our enabling laws, the Unit patrolled within its area of responsibility and ensured that smuggled items were uncovered and seized wherever they were hidden.

“Our round the clock patrol is ever recharged as we don’t believe in leave, not even during the yuletide. Those who doubted this and attempted smuggling during the yuletide were shocked at our Christmas and New Year period operations.

“We achieved these using a combination of vigour, relying on the logistics provided by the Comptroller General of Customs and intelligence gathered from the field about smuggler s’ movement from time to time.”

Speaking on revenue, Ejibunu said, “While on our enforcement function, we recovered shortfalls in duty payments and achieved a total collection of eight hundred and seventy-eight million, three Hundred and four ty-four Thousand, Four hundred and eighty-six Naira, Ninety-six Kobo. (N878,344,486.9 6) as revenue for the government in 2022.

“This collected revenue would have been lost but for the intervention of FOU ‘A’, checking to be sure correct duties were paid into government coffers.

“Within the period under review, this unit provided support for facilitation of legitimate trade, ensuring ease of passage for compliant traders and double checking suspected noncompliant traders.

“We also provided escort services for cargoes under bond to their respective destinations across the country.”

Ejibunu while speaking on the projection for 2023 said, “We want to thank the CGC and his management team for their unflinching support throughout last year and the previous years.

“For 2023, we shall sustain and increase the tempo of our anti-smuggling operations, ensuring zero compromise as usual, arresting perpetrators and seizing their wares.

“We want to advise smugglers and their collaborators to seek legitimate means of livelihood this year as this Unit will continually make life unbearable for them through interdictions, arrests, seizures and diligent prosecution.”