The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, says it seized goods worth N4.88 billion between February and December 6.

The area comptroller, Bamidele Makinde, disclosed this during a Wednesday press conference in Idiroko, Ogun.

Mr Makinde said the command, during the period under review, recorded 842 seizures, which included 44,933 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, an equivalent of 73 trailer loads.

He listed some of the items seized as 736 sacks of second-hand clothing, 3,629 pieces of used tyres, 4,700 bags of cement, three bales and 384 pieces of used bags, 41 sacks and 940 wraps of cannabis (book and coconut sizes).

Others are 170 cartons of poultry products, 191 vehicle compressors, 2,250 packets of tramadol and 222 refrigerator compressors.

Also seized were 220 pieces and 867 cartons of foreign wine, 277 pairs, 320 sacks and 120 cartons of foreign shoes; 89 bales and 485 pieces of foreign textile and 302 sacks of foreign corn.

He said the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the items is N4.88 billion.

Mr Makinde added that the command also generated N58.67 million in the period under review.

The NCS boss said the command recorded the seizures due to intensive, round-the-clock surveillance, patrol activities, and effective intelligence deployment.

“We use intelligence to aid our operations, and these are done in accordance with various sections of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA),” he stated.

The NCS boss said revenue was equally generated from the importation and exportation of goods under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and assessment of merchandise in baggage.

He said the command also generated revenue from auction sales of perishable or highly combustible goods such as petrol.

Mr Makinde commended critical stakeholders like the traditional rulers, community leaders and other security agencies for their continuous support and collaboration with the command. 

(NAN)