The Nigeria Customs Service  (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, with headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos has said tha it intercepted and seized smuggled goods worth Duty Paid Value  (DPV) of N13.908 billion between January 1 and December 31, 2022.
The Unit disclosed that during the onslaught against the economic saboteurs,  it arrested 176 smugglers during the same period under review.
Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu,  Acting Controller,  FOU Zone A,  disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday.
Ejibunu,  a Deputy Comptroller of Customs  (DC), said among the seized goods were 156 trailer loads of rice, 108 vehicles, 20 trailer loads of petroleum products as well as other contraband.
The Customs boss noted that the year 2022 for Federal Operations Unit Zone A, was a period of sustained anti-smuggling onslaught, zero compromises for duty evasion, and diligent facilitation of trade.
He averred that the Unit prosecuted its core mandates without fear or favour in the six states of the South-West namely: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states. “Even in the face of resistance, attacks, and tricks in the mode of concealments, we were duty bound to carry out our responsibilities.
“I am glad to report that we shook the smuggling world within our area of responsibility.
“This Unit also prevented loss of government revenue as our assigned position of being a layer of check uncovered attempts at evading duties.