Customs Impounds 384 Parcels of Indian Hemp Imported from Ghana

• Arrests 10 suspects

Eromosele Abiodun

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), yesterday said it seized 384 parcels of Indian hemp imported from Ghana and concealed inside six bales of second-hand clothing.

The Comptroller, Federal Operating Unit (FOU) Zone A, Mohammed Uba Garba, who disclosed this while showing journalists around seized contraband goods, said the items were impounded along Iyana-Ipaja road based on information.
He disclosed that the unit also recovered a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N607,717,533.55 million from intercepted contraband and interventions on duty payment/demand notices on general goods that tried to beat the system from the airports, seaports and border stations under the guise of false declaration, transfer of value and short-change of duty payment meant for the federal government between April 1 to June 12, 2017.

According him, “Ten suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, and a total of 152 different seizures were recorded comprising vegetable oil, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, used tyres, and various general merchandises.
“In the spirit of inter-agency relationship, the suspect concerning the seized Indian hemp will be handed over to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

He added: “We also seized five containers based on information and physical examination. This containers contravenes Customs law by means of false declaration and breach of import prohibition list by trade. A breakdown of the five containers seized is: one 1x40feet container with number ACLU967372/1 containing 2,322 pieces of used tyres and two units of used vehicles. Another 1x40feet container with number CMAU437648/0 containing 2,660 pieces of used tyres.

“The third, a 1x40feet container with number CMAU717109/9 contains 170 cartons of piston ring compressor, while the fourth, a 1x20feet container with number TGHU141216/5 contains 12 pallets of general calcium/vehicle batteries of 108 pieces per pallet. The fifth is a 1x40ft container with number TCLU753359/2 which contains log of unprocessed rough wood ready for export. This act of false declaration falls under section 46 (f) of CEMA Cap C45 LFN 2004 which is tantamount to outright seizure.”