Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun I Area Command, Idiroko made seizures of contrabands with duty paid value of N770,666,237 between April and June 2024.
Gatekeepers News reports that the command also generated N92,369,227 as revenue within these three months with about a 52.46% increase when compared to N53,983,622.00 recorded in corresponding period of 2023.
The agency also surpassed monthly revenue target of N34, 122,666.90 in June 2024 by 77.86%.
Contrabands successfully intercepted during the period under review included 219 sacks and 1,725 parcels of cannabis sativa, 940 rounds of live ammunition, 44,466 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 2,227 pieces of pneumatic foreign-used tyres, and 64 bales and 222 sacks of used clothes.
Other interceptions include 2,947 cartons of frozen poultry products, 7,015 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 21 units of vehicles, 3 units of motorcycles, and 115 pairs of used shoes.
Controller of the command, Comptroller James Ojo revealed this at a briefing held in Abeokuta on Monday.
According to Ojo, the seizures made within this period were not just numbers but they represented the agency’s relentless fight against smuggling and determination to protect local economy to ensure public health and safety and uphold integrity of the nation’s borders.
He said, “Through our concerted efforts and strategic operations, the Ogun I Area Command has generated an impressive revenue of N92, 369,227.00 for the second quarter of 2024.”
“Interestingly, this revenue represents about a 52.46% increase compared to the N53, 983,622.00 recorded in the corresponding period of 2023. In addition, the Command surpassed the monthly revenue target of N34, 122,666.90 in June 2024 by 77.86%.”
“In recent operations, we successfully intercepted 219 sacks and 1,725 parcels of cannabis sativa, 940 rounds of live ammunition, 44,466 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 2,227 pieces of pneumatic foreign-used tyres, and 64 bales and 222 sacks of used clothes.”
“Other interceptions include 2,947 cartons of frozen poultry products, 7,015 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 21 units of vehicles, 3 units of motorcycles, and 115 pairs of used shoes with a Duty Paid Value of N770,666,237.00.”
Ojo noted that the contrabands seized are better appreciated for their catastrophic effects on the people and the damage done to the economy is put into consideration.
According to him, cannabis sativa aka marijuana or Indian hemp, is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant with a devastating effect on lives of its consumers, especially the youths.
Ojo added that the rise in its abuse is of great concern within Nigerian society and a threat to our national security, due to its potential influence on criminal activities, such as armed robbery, banditry, cultism, kidnapping, terrorism, and other criminal activities.
