By ZAKAA LAZARUS-Abuja
The controller Lilypond Export
Command, Ajibola Odusanya, has confirmed the seizure of some containers suspected to been used for smuggling activities.
Controller Ajibola Odusanya made this known at a press briefing on Thursday.
He said a total of Eleven units of 20FT containers fully laden with Rough/Sawn Timber have been seized.
According to him, the seized consignment is estimated to having a street value of Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Four US Dollars ($295,944.00).
He said the command on November 1, 2024 scheduled the suspected containers for hundred percent physical examination and they were found to contain raw and unprocessed timber which contravenes Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET).
” Particulars of these Eleven containers are TRLU9354677, MRKU9991028, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2543324, MSKU3929849, MSKU7323470, MSKU5953248, and GAOU2550990.
“Going by the provisions of Sections 148,149 and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 the detained containers are hereby being converted to seizures.
“While we are yet to apprehend the culprits behind this criminal act, we expect these seizures to serve as deterrent to any person or export trader planning to perpetuate similar offence.
Controller Ajibola assured that the long arms of the law would catch up with anyone that dares our resolve.
” This further underscores the CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling, even in the area of export. It goes further to confirm our alertness with the support of other units within the service and sister government agencies to detect and prevent criminal activities in the area of export.
“I want to use this opportunity to, once again, urge our Small, Medium and Large-scale exporters to take advantage of our easy processes and window of opportunities provided by the Federal Government to encourage export trade.
“We shall continue to engage our partners and stakeholders as mandated by the CGC following the theme of the World Customs Organization for 2024 and that of the recently held 2024 Comptroller General of Customs Conference”. Ajibola assured.
