Tin-Can Customs Records 27.5% Revenue Increase

Intercepts Live Ammunition, Colorado, Machetes

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), The Tin Can Island Command intercepted 300 rounds of live ammunition, one pistol gun and two empty magazines, in addition to the seizure of 145 kilogram of Colorado, otherwise locally known as igbo or wee-wee, and 206,000 pieces of machetes.

This is even as the command collected a whooping sum of N274.320 billion in revenue receipt between January and June 2022, representing 27.5% rise over and beyond the revenue figure of N229.322 for the corresponding period of 2021.

Briefing newsmen in his office, the ICT driven customs area controller, Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede disclosed that the implementation of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Valuation has helped the command to achieve an expedited clearance process due to predictability of value-assessment, increase in revenue generation, improved ease of doing business, generation of accurate statistics for Federal Government and a host of other customs duty.

Speaking on its anti-smuggling activities, Oloyede explained that the seized Colorado were concealed in two units of Ridgeline trucks and two units of Toyota Corolla vehicles, whilst the command has handed over a suspect, a pistol, two empty magazines and the 300 rounds of live ammunition seized by his officers and men to the DSS for further investigations and action.

He said other seizures include 640 bales of used clothing, 236,500 pieces of used shoes, 62,500 pieces of lady’s shoes, 1,670,400 pieces of Chloroquine injections (5mg/5ml), 1,814,400 pieces of Novalgen injections (500m/5ml), 48,450 rolls of cigarettes and 23,800tins of sodium bromate and baking powder.

His words: “In addition to the above other detentions made include 3,303 pieces of motor batteries found in three containers falsely declared as three units of Toyota Haice buses, four used Mack truck heads, one unit used Toyota Sequoia 2008 model, one unit of used Mercedes Benz GL450 2008 model and one unit of used 2011 Toyota 4Runner.”

The customs area boss who put the value of the seizures amounted to N1.301 billion added that the seized items contravene sections 46, 47 and 161 of the Customs and Exercise Management Act (CEMA) CAP 45 LFN 2004.

This is even as he disclosed that his officers have uncovered a syndicate who forged his signature to release four vehicles out of the port, vowing that the perpetrators will be prosecuted and jailed. The audacious but meticulous customs chief said the command will continue to drive trade facilitation and to provide conducive environment for and collaboration with relevant stakeholders and regulatory agencies of Government; while ensuring at the same time that national security is not compromised.

“Additionally, the dispute settlement structure of the command aligns with the provisions of the import duty mechanism outlined in paragraph (H) subparagraph (8) of the import guidelines, procedures and documentation requirements, which allows an importer to take delivery of his cargo in the case of persistent dispute after securing a bank bond, the total duties and taxes payable on the item being disputed,” he said.

While urging all stakeholders to play by the rules, he acknowledged the critical role played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation unit, Customs Strike force, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) as well as interventions by sister regulatory agencies such as NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigerian Police achieving the command’s first half year impressive result.