Customs FOU Zone C seizes contraband items worth N7.57bn in 15 months

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone “C” has said that it seized contrabands worth N7.57 billion between Jan. 25, 2023 and April 19, 2024.

Outgoing Compt. Kayode Kolade disclosed this in a farewell message while handing over to his successor and new Comptroller of the Unit, Mr Michael Ugbagu at the customs office in Ikeja on Friday.

Kolade, thanking the FOU Zone C for the support and the reason for his success, said the unit within his 15 months tenure was able to make substantial and spectacular seizures; totaling 198 seizures with a duty paid value of N7.577 billion.

"This is derived from five sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 413.1kg worth N523.35 million 1,813 bags of 50KG each of foreign parboiled rice worth N105.10 million.

"Also, 815 Sacks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 17,950KG and 2,935 PARCELS (1KG EACH) weighing 2,935kg totaling 20,885KG worth N1.67 billion among other seizures.

"Other seizures and their breakdown are as shown: DSP/CMC cough syrup with codeine

31 CTNS containing 3,600 bottles N21.6 million; Vehicles: 52 units including three armoured vehicles worth N4.27 billion among others," he said.

Kolade added that although FOU Zone C was not a revenue-generating unit, under his watch and based on interventions to checkmate the activities of fraudulent agents at the seaports.

He added that lots of lost revenues were recovered to the tune of N155.82 million within his 15 months in office.

Kolade said he also reconstructed and equipped a clinic at the Unit’s office, in Owerri, where officers and men, as well members of the host community enjoy free health care services administered by the unit’s qualified medical personnel.

In addition, to ensure a healthy work-life balance, he carved out a very spacious office for sports activities with fully installed gym equipment where officers and men can exercise.

The outgoing customs command boss called on everyone to extend same support and cooperation to his successor, Compt. Micheal Ugbagu as he pilots the affairs of the unit and wished him well.

In his response, Ugbagu thanked the CGC and his entire management team for bestowing him with the mandate to oversee the affairs of FOU Zone C.

He thanked Kolade for his “highly commendable“ achievements while he held sway and pledged continued compliance with established guidelines.

“We will ensure compliance with the current import and export guidelines using intelligence and technology to drive our operations. There will be a watertight security against smuggling activities across the zone.

"Smugglers will be discouraged, frustrated and made uncomfortable, thereby making smuggling, duty evasion and warehousing of smuggled goods unattractive within the zone," he said.

The new command boss called for support and cooperation from the media and the general public to enable him carry out his new assignment.