CAC Swomen addressing the press earlier today.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The officers and men of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have seized 2×40 foot containers carrying sacks of mosquito coils and imported shoes both which are under the banned items of importation as detailed in the Common External Tarrif law.
The Customs Area Command of the KLT Command, Comptroller Hammi J. Swomen made this known at the press briefing organised at the Command this morning. CAC Swomen said that “From January to June 2022, the command has recorded a significant monthly upsurge in the revenue generation profile aggregating to a total sum of N23.6 billion thereby surpassing the N14.6 billion generated from January to June 2021 with a surplus of #8,940,941,341.00 which represents a 38% increase in revenue collected in the first half of the year”.
He noted that “The command made seizures of 02 X 40ft containers laden with restricted/prohibited drugs such as cough syrup with codeine and Hyergra with a duty paid value of N212,775,950.00. Within the period under review, the command also made seizures of 1 X 40ft container of 795 packages of prohibited footwear (falsely declared as water taps and closets). 1 X 40ft container of 1,447 packages of prohibited mosquito coils and other items (falsely declared as non woven paper filter)”
“These importations with a DPV of N271,963,311.00 contravene item Nos, 22 and 17 respectively in schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET)”.
CAC Swomen displaying some of the seized items.
Comptroller Swomen also added the various achievements of the Command as including increased revenue profile by over 38% when compared to the same period in 2021,
reactivation of the moribund terminals (OLIZ bonded terminal). 75% rate increase in compliance, increased cargo throughput and the approval of Export Processing Terminals in the command.
He commended the inter-agency cooperation that he enjoys with sister agencies, the undiluted support from the CG of Customs and his team, the implementation of government’s policy on the facilitation of trade, re-energised conflict resolution mechanism, regular interaction with stakeholders and proper joint examination activities.
Stacks of cartons of the seized shoes.
He also listed some of the challenges that his Command faces which include, but not limited to the sliding value of the naira, the poor nature of the Commands access roads and the general effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The container of seized mosquito coils.
At the question and answer session, CAC Swomen said that though no arrest has been made, but that investigation into the matter of the 2×40 foot seized containers is still very much ongoing as no one has come forward to make claims yet. He also added that smuggling thrives because a whole lot of gains may be achieved by it, but that it takes the concerted efforts of every well meaning person to check the practice and make it less profitable for the smugglers.
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