Customs FOU Ikeja hands over animal parts to NESREA, reveals feats in anti-smuggling
The Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Zone A, Ikeja, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, on Wednesday, handed over a number of intercepted animal parts seized from Chinese nationals in Ikeja during a raid to officials of the Nigeria Environment Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and warned criminals to desist from such act which he said is capable of exterminating the lives of endangered animal species in Nigeria.
Addressing the media, Uba revealed that “We have been able to intercept various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,035,232,046.13.
He said “The seized items include: 18 assorted vehicles, 4,201 bags of foreign parboiled rice (that’s about 7 trailers) 2,619 cartons of frozen poultry products, 1,105 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 2,637 pieces of used tyres, 1,333 bales of used clothing, 2,001 kg of Pangolin, 343kg of Elephant Tusks among others”.
In his remarks shortly after the handover, the State Coordinator of NESREA, Mr. Nosah Igbedia thanked FOU operatives on their determination to track down criminals who are bent of destroying the nation’s remaining endangered species and assured that investigations will be conducted for effective prosecution of the suspects.
In his further presentation, FOU chief, averred that “The detained vehicles include 1 Rolls Royce, 1 Chrysler, 1 Audi Q7, 1 Land Rover HSE, 1 Toyota Venza, 1 Ford Taurus, 1 Honda Cross tour, 4 Mercedes Benz, 3 Kia Rio, 1 Escalade, among others of various type ranging from 2008 to 2015 model). While some of the vehicles were intercepted along Ijebu Ode Expressway, others were evacuated from a car mart located in Lekki”.
“Remarkably within the month under review, the Warehouse Operations Team led by Assistant Comptroller Mutalib Sule while on intelligence raided an apartment at No. 38, Ogundana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and evacuated the Following: 55 sacks Of Pangolin Shells weighing 2001kg Valued At N408,319,317.6; 218 pieces Of Elephant Tusk weighing 343Kg And Valued At 85,156,649.96.
On why the Command swooped on the animal parts traffickers, Uba noted that “the responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service have undoubtedly increased tremendously overtime because of the implementation of different International protocols and conventions”.
According to him, “The Convention of International Trade in Endangered species (CITES 1973) entails that Customs Administration globally protects wild life by intercepting illegal trade on such animals. It further prevents the killings of endangered species since the tusks are only available after the killing of the elephant and pangolin. In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the seized pangolin and tusks have been be handed over to NESREA for further investigation in collaboration towards protecting our natural habitat, which you all witnessed earlier.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our action is in-line with the provisions of Sections 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (power to search premises), Section 158 of CEMA, Cap 45 Laws of Federation of Nigeria (power to patrol freely).
“Also, a 1/20ft container no. CAIU0961053 was seized for false declaration, which is tantamount to seizure. Seventeen (17) suspects have been arrested in connection with these 90 seizures including Mr. KO Sin Ying, a Chinese national
Uba revealed further that “Within the period under review, we have also recovered N67,945,158.00 from demand notices raised on goods intercepted while attempting to beat the system through transfer of value and under declaration, making a cumulative of N1,103,177,204”.
COMMODITY BY COMMODITY REPORT
| S/N | DETAILS OF ENTRY | QUANTITY | NO. OF SEIZURES | DPV |
| 1. | Used vehicles of different types | 18 units | N 303,422,034.49 | |
| 2. | Bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each | 4,201 bags | 59 | N 51,815,344.04 |
| 3. | Indian Hemp | |||
| 4. | Bales of second hand clothing | 1,333 | 12 | N 131,688,000 |
| 5. | Frozen poultry products | 2,619 | 6 | N 15,714,000 |
| 6. | Used tyres | 2,637 pieces | 7 | N 14,239,800 |
| 7. | Vegetable oil | 1,105 kgs | 3 | N 10,442,250 |
| 8. | Used compressor | 162 | 1 | N 2,430,000 |
| 9. | Pangolin scales | 2001kg | N 408,319,317.63 | |
| 10. | Elephant tusk | 343kg | 1 | N 85,156,649.96 |
| 11. | 1x40ft container No. CAIU0961053 | 1 | N 10,066,650 | |
| 12 .
. |
Total | 90 | N 1,035,232,046.13 |
FROM THURSDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2018 TO WEDNESDAY 28TH
NOTE
DPV N 1,035,232,046.13
RECOVERED AMOUNT N67,945,158.00
TOTAL SEIZURE 90
MEANS OF CONVEYANCE 20
SUSPECTS 17
