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The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Customs Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Compt. Yusuf Malanta has assured members of the Apapa business community of robust stakeholders engagement in the command.
He made this known during his maiden press briefing in the command on Thursday while disclosing the seizure of tramadol and other unwholesome imports that negates the import procedure of Nigeria.
In his words, he said, “the command under my watch will increase sensitization, enlightenment and robust stakeholders engagement for seamless operations, with a view to educate the public on the harmful and destructive nature of these illegal importations”.
He revealed that barely three weeks of resuming office in Apapa, he came with strong determination, zeal and commitment to ensure that the confidence and trust bestowed on him by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Ahmed Ali (rtd) is upheld and not abused, stating that the commands anti-smuggling architecture has been redesigned to suppress smuggling to its barest minimum.
The CAC disclosed that while acting on Manifest Management Service (MMS) the command was able to track and intercepted a container with No. 1793504 and upon 100% physical examination, it was ascertained that the container had 554 cartons
of (120mg) tramadol capsule with a market value of Two hundred and twenty-three Million naira (#223million) concealed with 1000 cartons of ceramic tiles imported from India but was wrongly declared as ceramic tiles.
Other seizures made by the command through the help of the management team according to Malanta within this 3 weeks includes one (1) 40ft container loaded with sacks of mosquito coil products but declared as Ground paper and packaging paper bag, seven (7) containers loaded with bales of used clothing and shoes and one (1) container of an unregistered pharmaceutical product ( 989 cartons) of Mixagrip tabs) wrongfully declared as Winches and Gaskets. The Total Duty Paid Value of the aforementioned seizures stood at Two hundred and twenty-three million, two hundred and twenty-five thousand, nine hundred naira (#223,225,900.00).
While sounding a note of warning,
the CAC stated “The Command under my watch will not tolerate such kind of unlawful behaviour from any importer or declarant”, informing that the command has launched a preliminary investigation with a view to identifying the consignees for arrest and possible prosecution in connection with this criminal and unlawful importation.
