The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 11 units of 20ft containers containing raw and sawn Timber.
Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, the Controller of the Command, disclosed this to journalists at the AP Moller Terminals, Apapa, on Wednesday, 27th November, 2024.
He said a combined team of the Lilypond Export Command officers and officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), while acting on credible intelligence following the discharge of some export bound containers at the barge area of Apapa Port on 11th October, 2024, intercepted and detained the containers suspected to be used for smuggling.
Odusanya said: "On 1st November, 2024, the Command scheduled the suspected containers for hundred percent physical examination and they were found to contain raw and unprocessed timber which contravene Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET).
"Going by the provisions of Sections 148,149 and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the detained containers have been converted to seizures, while culprits behind this criminal act are yet to be apprehended. It is expected that the seizures serve as deterrent to any person or export trader planning to perpetrate similar offence", Odusanya concluded.
The Lilypond Export Command Boss assured that the long arms of the law would catch up with anyone that dares the Command’s resolve as he urged Small, Medium and Large-scale exporters to take advantage of the easy processes and window of opportunities provided by the Federal Government to encourage export trade.
The Controller handed over the seizures to officials of the Forestry Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment, in accordance with the existing inter agency collaboration between the NCS and other sister organisations.
Mrs Busayo Abimbola, who represented the Director of Forestry received the seizures, and commended the NCS for its diligence in detecting such smuggling activities, adding that her department will continually collaborate with Customs to prevent illegal deforestation activities and safeguard the nation’s environment and economy.
“This command is dedicated to overseeing export trade and has brought a lot of improvements in support of the Federal Government drive to promote non-oil export.
“It is important, I reiterate that we have a resolve not to sacrifice compliance on the altar of trade facilitation as we shall always prevent the export of any consignment that run in conflict with the laws of our country. It is in the light of this that the command notifies the general public of its latest fight against smuggling and defiance to extant Customs laws and regulations.
“Particulars of the eleven containers are: TRLU9354677, MRKU9991028, TCLU2179830, MSKUS051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2543324, MSKU3929849, MSKU7323470, MSKU5953248, GAOU2550990.
"This underscores the CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling, even in the area of export. It goes further to confirm our alertness with the support of other units within the service and sister government agencies to detect and prevent criminal activities in the area of export.
“We shall continue to engage our partners and stakeholders as mandated by the CGC following the theme of the World Customs Organization for 2024 and that of the recently held 2024 Comptroller General of Customs Conference”, Comptroller Odusanya said.
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