Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command has intercepted some prohibited items smuggled into the country through one of Nigeria’s busiest borders, Seme Border.
The seizures among other things include explosive materials, expired noodles, and Savita Cannabis.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that the seizures comprises items that are high on the Export Prohibition List (EPL) and the Import Prohibition List (IPL).
The EPL and the IPL are drawn up by the Federal Government in line with its fiscal policies and implemented by the Customs High Command to ensure strict compliance.
Not a few stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy have seen the seizures made by men and officers of NCS, Seme Area Command as a major blow to smuggling and cross-border criminal activities across Nigeria’s borders.
This was disclosed to stakeholders at the operational headquarters of the command, Seme Tuesday, by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila.
Giving an insight into the seizure, Kaila attributed the success of officers and men of the command to what he called “intelligence and sustained surveillance” in the border corridor.
According to Kaila, officers and men subjected the consignment to thorough examination and uncovered 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilograms.
Describing the discovery as worrisome, the Customs Chief noted that the expired noodles could have posed serious health risks to unsuspecting Nigerians who might have purchased and consumed them.
Kaila’s words: “Acting on intelligence and sustained surveillance, our officers subjected the consignment to thorough examination and uncovered 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilograms. What was discovered was deeply disturbing because many of the products had already deteriorated and were visibly decomposing. Intelligence further revealed that the intention was to repackage, relabeled and introduce these products into Nigerian markets for unsuspecting consumers.
“Had this shipment succeeded, countless families would have been exposed to serious health hazards ranging from food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases to other life-threatening medical complications. By intercepting these products, the Nigeria Customs Service has once again demonstrated that border security is also a form of public health protection. Every child, every family and every Nigerian has been protected from what could have become a silent public health disaster.”
According to the CAC, in separate enforcement operations conducted across different flashpoints within our area of responsibility, the command also intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, smuggled through illegal routes. Beyond denying government legitimate revenue, such illicit importation undermines the Federal Government’s agricultural policies, discourages local rice production and threatens the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
Continuing, Kaila said: “The fight against illicit drugs remains one of the service’s critical contributions to national security and public safety. Pursuant to this, the Command intercepted the following shipments:
373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.
“These are not ordinary commodities. They are dangerous products capable of destroying lives, fueling criminality, encouraging substance abuse and undermining the future of our young people”.
