By Uzor Odigbo
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone,A Ikeja of the Nigerian Customs Service has seized 55 Sacks of Pangolin Shells weighing 2001Kg valued at N408,319,317 and 218 pieces of Elephant Tusks Weighing 343kg also valued N85,156,649.96. It did in February 2018.
The Unit also intercepted 18 assorted vehicles worth N303 million coming through unapproved routes.
Other Items seized within the period includes, 4,201 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,619 cartons of frozen poultry products , 1,105 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 2,637 pieces of used tyres, and 1,333 bales of used Clothing among Others.
The total Duty Paid Value for all the seized goods in February is put at N1,035,232,046.13.
The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba said in a media briefing, ‘You will recall that the responsibilities of the NCS have undoubtedly increase tremendously overtime because of the implementation of different International Protocols and Conventions.
The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES 1973) entails that Customs Administration globally protects wild life by intercepting illegal trade on such animals”.
Uba who handed over the artifacts to the Lagos State Coordinator of Nigeria Environment Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency(NESREA) Mr Nosa Aigbejo said the items were seized by the warehouse operations team led by Assistant Comptroller Mutalib Sule, while on Intelligence reports at Allen Avenue, Ikeja,Lagos State.
On the seized vehicles which includes,a Rolls Royce, a Chrysler, Audi Q7,a Land Rover HSE, a Toyota Venza among others ranging from 2008 to 2015 models, Uba said they came into the country through Land borders which were unapproved routes by the federal government.
He said some of the vehicles were intercepted along Ijebu Ode in Ogun State.
Within the period, the Unit also intercepted 1/20ft Container falsely declared,while 17 suspects were also arrested in connection with the 90 seizures including Mr KO Sin Ying, a Chinese National.
A total of N67,945,158 was also recovered through Demand Notices making a cumulative figure of N1,103,177,204 within the period.
Uba thanked the media for their continued supports and urge them to sensitize and educate the general public on the effects of smuggling to the Nation’s economy.