New CAC, Nnadi makes Exceptional Seizures after 10 Days on the Job

... Seizes counterfeit $6 million, 1,300 kegs of PMS, 14 international passports, and other Items

By Kathy Kyari

Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, who recently took over as the Customs Area Controller of the Seme Customs Command, has lived up to his name by achieving exceptional seizures after only 10 days on the job.

A fuel tanker-worth of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as gasoline, 1,300 kegs, 550 pieces of donkey skin, 146 bags of grain, 14 international passports, and 10 international driver's licenses were all seized by the command.

The phony dollars were discovered at the Gbaji checkpoint in the Seme route in the early hours of January 31, 2023, according to Comptroller Nnadi, who revealed this at a news conference on Thursday.

In relation to the spectacular seizure, he claimed that two male suspects were detained.

He further revealed that the Duty-Paid Value of the 1,300 PMS jerry cans that were confiscated is N9,366,450. Including the fact that the goods were spotted near creeks

According to Nnadi, the 146 bags of flour that were confiscated have a Duty-Paid Value of N5, 383,020.

The Area Commander added that the 550 donkey skin fragments in 550 sacks that were confiscated indicated the death of 550 donkeys, an animal that is considered an endangered species and must be protected.

The seized donkey skin's Duty Paid Value, according to him, is N11, 371,511.0.

Compt. Nnadi reported that officers of the command seized ten international driver's licenses, two Senegalese international passports, three Togolese international passports, four Republic of Benin international passports, and six Maltese international passports with the same picture of a woman but different names from two male suspects.

The controller claimed that the passports and licenses were seized near the Gbetrome base.

He said that a total fee of N1, 414,665.01 were collected as a result of his Command facilitating the transit of 70 vehicles under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS).

There were 81 baggage declarations totaling N4, 520,722 in duty, according to Compt. Nnadi.

He stated further that, goods imported under this agreement include foods and drinks made in the Sub-regions. According to the CAC, just five import declarations totaling N13,383,104 in duty payments were registered by the command during that time.

He clarified that the lack of imports is a result of the Republic of Benin's introduction of a trade policy, which traders and the Service believe is antagonistic to Nigeria.

Nnadi concluded by adding that the command processed 122 trucks carrying 3,770.49 metric tons of made in Nigeria cargo, with a Free On Board value of N523,660,496.80 and a National Export Supervision Scheme charge of N2, 618,302.10.