In July, the Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service reported intercepting several illicit items, including 4,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 525 litres of diesel, 37 kegs of vegetable oil, 138 packs of tramadol (225mg each), 81 tablets of cannabis sativa, second-hand clothing, and more. The seized items had a total duty paid value of N51 million. The Customs Area Controller, Ben Oramalugo, mentioned that the coup in Niger Republic and subsequent border closure had impacted the command’s revenue generation efforts.
Despite the border closure, the command achieved a noteworthy accomplishment by exceeding its monthly revenue target, generating N99 million, representing 113% of the set target.
Additionally, the Ogun State Command of the NCS reported an interception in the Yewa-North Local Government Area. Abandoned in a bush path were five vehicles loaded with 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice, concealed near an exit point to the Republic of Benin. Upon examination, officials found around 1,245 rounds of live ammunition ingeniously concealed in the rice bags. The duty paid value of the seized items, including the ammunition and rice, amounted to N17,638,145. The items have been secured while investigations continue to identify the individuals involved in the smuggling attempt.