The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has recorded significant enforcement and anti-smuggling activities, resulting in 96 detentions and 47 seizures.

The Area Comptroller, Dera Nnadi, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos, said the feat was achieved by the Enforcement and Anti-Smuggling Unit of the command.

Nnadi listed the seized items as including 1264 packages weighing 473.50kg of hemp worth N118.4 million, concealed in various containers from eight seizures.

“Others are 10 sacks of used clothing and five used fridges with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.17 million in 1x40ft Container, DFSU 6858264, 3,028 pieces of matches, 435 cartons of De Ruth Tomato Paste, and Unregistered Pharmaceutical Products in 1x40ft Container, MRSU 5923970, MRKU 5534321, and MRSU 5923970, respectively.

“Also, 7 x 40 ft containers containing bulk charcoal with a DPV of N24.77 million, 12 different arms, six different pistols, and 500 rounds of ammunition of different calibres were extracted from the 1 x 40 ft container, CMAU 8834719.

“58 bags and three bags of used shoes concealed in 1X40 ft TGBU 4466688 and 1X40 ft MEDU 7552832, respectively, 987 bales of used clothing extracted from three containers, suspected concealment in 2X20 ft declared as gauze rolls.

“One unit of Land Rover with chassis number SALCT2BG4FH527794, a Suzuki Carry with chassis number MHYESL4152J115591, and a Mercedes-Benz C300 with chassis number WDDGF8BB9AK093016S, he said.

He noted that various supermarket items, toilet paper, pharmaceutical and beauty products, 615 sacks of Water Buffalo Horns, 2500 cartons of frozen poultry, 3,642 bags of basmati rice, household goods, arms and ammunition, and military wear were detected and seized collectively.

He said this amounted to a DPV of N47.4 million and a total DPV of the seized goods and narcotics valued at N3.2 billion.

He noted that in addition to the above, other detentions included supermarket items extracted from various containers, 32 packs of 50 pieces each of toilet paper, 531 cartons of pharmaceutical products, and 80 cartons of beauty products.

He said that the seizure was also made up of 615 sacks of Water Buffalo Horns, 2,500 cartons of frozen poultry with a DPV of N47.4 million, 3,642 bags of basmati rice of 20kg each, household goods, arms and ammunition, and military wear concealed in a 1×20 ft container, TGHU 0510362.

The customs boss pointed out that the total DPV of the seized goods and the street value of the narcotics amounted to N3.2 billion.

He said the port also witnessed a substantial volume of containers serving as a conveyance for goods, with 50,297 containers utilised from January to December 2023, comprising 15,289 20-foot containers, 34,557 40-foot containers, and 451 45-foot containers.

He added that 1,430 new vehicles and 4,34 used ones were imported through the ports.

“In terms of revenue generation, the enforcement unit, through painstaking efforts and interventions, aided the command through demand notices to the sum of N210.8 million.

Nnadi explained that goods exported through Tincan Island Port for the year amounted to 623,694.7 metric tonnes, with a total ee-on-board (FOB) worth N489.2 billion.

“This is impressive growth, with a notable increase of 85.5 per cent in tonnage and a 101.9 per cent increase in FOB value when compared to the year 2022,” he said.

He listed the products exported through the command in the year under review to include agricultural products like cocoa and soy beans, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, hibiscus flowers, etc.

“Locally manufactured goods like cosmetics, hair attachments, indomie noodles, beverages, cigarettes, and insecticides.

“Mineral resources such as lithium ore, tin ore, fluorite ore, aluminium ingots, lead ingots, and others,” he said.

He added that it was important to acknowledge the critical role played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation Unit, the Customs Strike Force, and interventions by sister regulatory agencies in making these seizures and detentions possible.

The customs boss said the automation of the Bond unit in customs operations with Tincan Island Port as the flagship command signifies a major step in digital transformation.

He noted that this helps by streamlining operations, promoting transparency, implementing an efficient cargo tracking system, and enhancing data accuracy. (NAN)

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