Customs FOU Zone “C” Intercepts  Bomb Production Materials,Hard Drugs ,Other Contrabands Worth N1.6bn

Customs FOU Zone “C” Intercepts  Bomb Production Materials,Hard Drugs ,Other Contrabands Worth N1.6bn
…..arrests 9 suspects in two months.

The Acting Comptroller, FOUC, DC Kayode Kolade, displaying some of the seized items

By Frank Odinukaeze

The security challenges in the country would have been further  worsened ,if not for the eagle eyed men of the Nigeria Customs Service  FOU Zone “C”, who in its drive to curb smuggling within its areas of jurisdiction,  intercepted cannabis sativa, raw materials for production of explosive devices, as well as other contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Eight Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-One Naira (N1,648,494,571.00) only.

According to a press statement on Monday , September 25 ,2023 ,by  Jerry Attach ,Public Relations Officer of FOU Zone”* C”, the Zone also arrested nine (9) suspects in connection with the seizures within the period under review ( July 25 to September 23rd 2023).

The Acting Comptroller, FOUC, DC Kayode Kolade, said this while addressing newsmen at the Government Warehouse, Aduwawa, Benin City, Edo state, on Monday.

Kolade, who frowned at the spate of smuggling in the Zone however said that he successfully recovered the sum of Fifty-Four Million, Two Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy One Naira  (54,244,571.00)only from demand notices raised based on some infractions noticed, making a cumulative sum of One Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-One Naira (N1,634,794,571.00) only within the months under review.

In addition to the 417 sacks of cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp weighing 9,194kg and 627 compressed parcels of same Indian hemp 1kg each totaling 627kg, and 9 sacks 50kg each of explosives’ raw materials, he listed other  seized products to include 1,329 bags, 50kg each of smuggled foreign parboiled rice ; 5 cartons of DSP Cough Syrup with codeine 100mg containing 1000 bottles ; 1 unit of armored Bullion Van ; 761 jumbo bales of second hand clothing ; 883 cartons of various unregistered/expired medicaments including tramadol; 100 cartons of various wines; 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tyres ; 335 cartons of smuggled foreign tomato paste; 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti.

“ Based on prompt intelligence and sting operation, the rice was intercepted along Calabar/Akwa Ibom axis and okada/benin expressway, the 417 sacks and 627 parcels of Indian hemp were intercepted at Okada-Benin and Ewu-Auchi Expressway respectively. 761 Jumbo bales of used clothing mostly concealed in trucks and buses were intercepted along Umeikaa/Aba Road and Okada-Benin road.

“ The 5 cartons of DSP cough syrup with codeine, and 883 cartons of unregistered medicaments were intercepted along Benin/Asaba/Onitsha Expressway.
The armored Bullion Van without customs documents and End User Certificate was intercepted along Okada/Benin Expressway. 100 cartons of wine and 335 tomatoes paste were intercepted along Ewu/Ibilo axis, 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tyres were also intercepted along Cross River waterside and Okada-Benin Expressway “, he said.

He further expressed worry over the smuggling of explosives even as the country continued grappling with the challenges associated with insecurity and called on smugglers to desist forthwith in the interest of humanity or have the law to contend with.

“ More worrisome is the interception of 9 sacks 50kg each of explosive materials (fertilizer , device cables  and superpower90 chemicals). We all know the security implication if these explosives components get to their destination unchecked. It may interest you to know that Superpower 90 is designed for priming applications and as a column explosive in surface and underground mining and general blasting. The high detonation velocity and the robust nature of Superpower 90 make it an ideal primer for the initiation of column charge. Lets us not just imagine if dynamites and landmines are

detonated using these items “, he said.

He seized the opportunity to congratulate the Ag. Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi MFR on his appointment to oversee the affairs of the service describing it as “well deserved considering his pedigree, dedication and commitment to the service”.

“ We will all make sure he succeeds as his leadership style has started yielding positive results in our operations. I thank the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for their efforts so far in providing needed incentives and necessary logistics that aided our performance. To my dear colleagues, Customs Intelligence Unit, Customs Police, I must commend your prompt intelligence sharing, resilience and tenacity that brought about this stride “, he added.

He called on journalists to join the Nigeria Customs Service in the advocacy campaign against the hazard of smuggling to the Nation’s Economy, and to all well-meaning Nigerians to support the service with necessary intelligence and information that could assist the Service nip in the bud smuggling in the interest of our fatherland.