The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it seized hard drugs, machetes, arms and ammunition and 38 other contrabands worth N1.8 billion in 2022.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Olakunle Oloyede, who disclosed this to journalists yesterday in Lagos, said the command also seized Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) weighing 345.1kg with a street market value of N714, 600, 000, which was given by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); 2,594 pieces of ammunition and 20 pieces of arms comprising one pistol with 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm; one used Co2 air pistol with accessories cal 117(4.5m)BM; one marksman repeater pistol; six mace pepper gun and 10 suspected arms of various types.
He listed the other seizures to include 5 x 40 containers of used motor tyre (5,060 pieces), 1,150 bales of second hand clothing, 1,190 cartons of 20per cartons of potassium bromate and baking powder, 11,392 cartons of 1200 per carton Armcol injection chloroquine phosphate 322.5mg.5ml (IV and IM), 206,000 pieces of finished machetes and 1,383 cartons of 50 rolls per carton of cigarettes.
Oloyede said the seizures recorded were higher with 11 seizures worth N1.23 billion when compared to the 2021 record of 27 seizures worth N607 million.
He said the increase rate could be associated with increased surveillance and intensified anti-smuggling drive, high value of seized items and the naira-dollar depreciation, which leads to high exchange rate on imported items.
According to him, these prohibited items were seized and forfeited to the Federal Government in line with the provision of sections 46 and 161 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004 and Absolute Prohibition List of CET 2022 – 2026.
