Seme Customs intercepts fake $6m bills, N9.3m fuel

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted fake $6 million bills from suspected transborder criminal syndicates in the Gbaji area of Badagry, Lagos.

The Command also impounded 1,300 by 30 litres jerry can of petrol equivalent to 39,000 litres with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N9.3m, along the creeks in the last 13 days, despite scarcity of the product in the country.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Dera Nnadi, told journalists during a press briefing in Seme on Thursday that the two suspects conveying the fake currency from Nigeria to the Republic of Benin have been arrested.

He said: “Two male suspects were arrested in connection with the crime and are in currently in our custody pending prosecution. The arrest was made at Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme corridor on the 31 of January, 2023.

“Also on the 31 of January, 2023 at a about 0530 hours, Officer on patrol along Gbetrome base intercepted Six (6) Maltese International Passports with the same picture of a lady but bearing different names. Two (2) Senegalese International Passports, Three (3) Togolese International Passports. Four (4) Republic of Benin International Passports. One (1) Republic of Niger International Passport and Ten (10) International Driving License of these various countries from two male suspects who are also in our custody pending further investigation.

Other items seized include 55 sacks containing 550 pieces of donkey skin with DPV oF N11.371.511. The significant of the sizure is that it shows how much our endanger speices are being eroded by unpatriotic elements”.

Upon resumption, Compt. Nnadi had pledged to adopt new strategies to boost trade, while enforcing the nation’s anti-smuggling laws along the Abidjan Lagos Corridor (ALCO) in line with the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of goods and persons, as well as encouraging compliant traders and dealing decisively with obstinate criminals who will wish to test the Command’s resolve.

He disclosed that the Command facilitated export of 122 trucks bearing 3,770.49 metric tons of made in Nigeria cargo with Free On Board value of N523.660,496.80 and National Export Supervision Scheme (FES) of N2,618,302.10; while it recorded five declarations of import with a total DPV of N13,383,104 within the period under review.

He continued: “In line with keeping to that promise but bearing in mind the challenges of the Command as one that is still recovering from the effects of the border closure, the Command has facilitated the movement of ETLS: 70 Trucks with fees amounting to N 1,414,665.01 collected. Baggage declarations: There were 81 baggage declarations with duty amounting to N4,520,722