While relying on Intelligent information gathering and collaboration with sister agencies in the Apapa port, the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has Intercepted 9 container load of unprocessed and semi processed woods.
Point News247 reports that the command also seized a container of unregistered pharmaceutical which was laden with 702 cartons of codeine syrup (each carton contains 200 pieces) and 347 cartons of Col caps (each carton contains 2,000 piece with a street value of ₦78,787,975.00.
Giving a breakdown of the wood seizures which was intercepted at the point of loading into vessel, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta noted that the DPV of the wood for the nine containers stood at ₦70, 559,775.00 and these seizures of timber and rock balsam, under HS Code 44011000 to 44039000, and contravene Sections 63 and 64 of the Export Trade (improper exportation of items).
He added that the command is going to make sure that recalcitrant traders are brought to book and exportation of prohibited items are not allowed to pass through Apapa port.
Comptroller Yusuf, who attributed the feat to the inter-agency synergies between customs and sister organisations like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said the collaboration with NDLEA has helped in gathering intelligence, leading to seizures of prohibited items as the command acts swiftly on reliable information without waiting for importers to come forward before effecting examination on suspected cargoes.
According to the controller, efforts at making Apapa Port a No-Go Area for unlawful trade will always be sustained while ensuring that maximum revenue is collected into government coffers from all legitimate transactions.
Comptroller Yusuf also revealed that the command is committed to surpassing its revenue collection of N870 billion in 2021, saying that a total of N95.3 billion was generated in January 2022, surpassing the N54.3 billion collected in January 2021 by N39 billion.
While appreciating the efforts of the CGC and his management team fir their support, Controller Yusuf commended officers and men of the command for not relenting in discharging their official responsibilities.
Finally, the NDLEA Commander in Apapa Port, Samuel Gadzama promised stronger synergy with customs to prevent such importation and added that upon due diligence through a court process, the seized drugs would be publicly destroyed in line with extant laws.