FOU ZONE A CUSTOMS SERVICE RECORDS #8 BILLION IN ONE MONTH... As Comptroller Oladeji frowns at Smugglers

By Special Correspondent.

The Federal Operation Unit ( FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone A, Lagos, has intercepted a huge seizure of 6,168 pieces of dry donkey skin, weighing 29.606 kg valued at N 6 billion in the month of July 2024.

This huge seizure is among the 70 seizures made by the unit in the month under review with a total value of N8 billion within the month of July 2024.

Similarly, the unit raked in a revenue of N133.6 million recovered through Debit Notes(DN) which could have been lost to underpayment.

Addressing the media over the weekend , Friday, August 30th, 2024, the Controller of the unit, Comptroller Kola Oladeji, said the performance of the Lagos FOU in July 2024 was better and a much higher than the corresponding month of 2023.

According to him, the total seizures of 70 contraband goods recorded in July 2024 was higher by 20 compared to the 50 seizures made in July 2023.

“In July 2024, our reinvigorated anti-smuggling drive had resulted in the arrest of 14 male suspects by the unit.

“Within the period under review, we made 70 seizures worth a Total Duty Paid Value of Eight

Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, One Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety-Nine naira (N8,098,001,199).

breakdown of the seizures is as follows;

6,168 pieces of donkey skin (with a total dry weight at 29,606 kg) ,37,630 sachets of Tramadol of 250mg, 11,820 pieces of new machetes, 4,740 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 978 kg of Cannabis sativa, 1,145 cartons of poultry products,15 units of imported vehicles, 257 bales of used clothes, 11,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

Adding that “On revenue recovery, for the Month of July 2024, the sum of One hundred and Thirty-Three million, Six hundred and Ninety-Six thousand, Two hundred and Twenty-Three naira Ninety-Eight kobo (N133,696,223.98K) was generated through documentary checks and issuance of Demand Notices on consignments that were found to have been short-paid.

Saying “The entire amount had been paid into the Federation Account” Comptroller Oladeji revealed

Comparing the month of July 2023 with July 2024, the revenue generated increased by Ninety-Six million, Eighty-Seven thousand, One hundred and Thirty-Three naira, Seventy-Seven Kobo (N96,087,133.79K) at 245% increase.

Oladeji notes that “Our interceptions rose from 50 seizures in July 2023 to 70 seizures

in July 2024 with a DPV difference of Seven billion, Six hundred and Thirty-Five million, Two hundred and Ninety-Two thousand, Three hundred and Twenty-Four Naira only (N7,635,292,324) at 1,750% increase.

The custom Boss notes that “We have also disposed of the Eleven Thousand Seven Hundred Litres (11,700 Litres) of smuggled PMS through Open Auctions due to the volatility of the product after approval from our Headquarters” Comptroller Oladeji declared.

While our officers rejected financial inducements from the illicit traders to make their seizures.

The FOU controller also said his unit relied on intelligence and collaboration with sister agencies to achieve this spectacular success.

Oladeji notes that "We had not fired a single shot since four months ago when I resumed as I have instructed my officers not to kill or maim anybody but to ensure they get their illicit goods, the Comptroller said.

He said the operations of the unit are done with a human face without spilling human blood or maiming anyone.

He however notes that the smugglers would have his crack team to contend with as long as they don’t quit their illicit business in the unit.

The Comptroller warns that the smugglers’ desperation is being confronted with the resistance, causing men and officers of the unit to seize their wares and arrest the suspects.