The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has disclosed that the Service has seized contraband goods whose Duty Paid Value (DPV) is put at N241,977,943.00
The Customs boss made the disclosure Friday, 6th October 2023, in Abeokuta, during a press briefing on recent seizures of prohibited goods.
Adeniyi decried the importation of foreign-used Pneumatic Tyres, more commonly known as Tokunbo tyres, which he said was a major concern to the Service, explaining that the ring-shaped protective coverings made of rubber and filled with compressed air are typically used in foreign countries but regrettably are deemed unsuitable for our highways.
“A significant number of these tyres have exceeded their recommended lifespan from their manufacturing date. According to safety experts, good-quality pneumatic tyres are safe for use for only four years from the date of manufacturing. Any usage beyond this duration poses a significant risk to motorists and jeopardizes their lives”, he said.
The Customs chief further highlighted the ingenious tactics employed by smugglers of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as marijuana or Indian hemp, which include smuggling through land borders, utilizing creeks, and even resorting to smuggling via air routes.
On the seizures, Adeniyi revealed that between September 18 and September 30, 2023, officers of the Ogun 1 Area Command seized 1,436 used Pneumatic tyres, 53 sacks, and 569 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing a total of 1,179 kilograms.
Additionally, they apprehended 3,149 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilograms, alongside 32 vehicles used for conveyance, among other items.
These seizures were executed at various locations, including Papa/Ajegunle, Ilaro road, Imasayi/Joga road, Ijebu Ode axis, and Odogbolu bush path along Ijebu Ode road in Ogun State.
The seizures, according to him, “are a testament to our renewed determination and strategic deployment of both human and material resources. Our commitment to protecting Nigerians from the audacious actions of daredevil smugglers remains unwavering”.
