The Nigeria Customs Service’s Zone A Federal Operations Unit in Ikeja, Lagos, stated on Thursday that it had apprehended 150 cartons of bulletproof jackets valued at N1.687 billion.
Kola Oladeji, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, told journalists in Ikeja that the contraband was caught on the Ijebuode-Sagamu Motorway in Ogun State.
Oladeji added that each carton contained ten packs of the jacket and that the contraband was seized in June.
He said that under Schedule 4 of the Customs Common External Tariff, people were strictly prohibited from importing any type of military item.
“An end-user certificate is required for the importation of controlled items and products into Nigeria, and it comes from the Office of the National Security Adviser,” Oladeji said.
Oladeji stated that the unit was gathering credible intelligence to track down the importers of these contrabands.
“These seizures were unique because it was a breach of security—no end-user certificate.
“Because you get the certificate before you can bring your cargo, and if you bring it after importation, we will arrest you,” he said.
According to Oladeji, the unit captured kilogrammes of cannabis sativa as well as expired medications throughout the review period.
“Our dedicated officers also intercepted 989 kg of cannabis sativa and 5,229 cartons of expired drugs.”
According to him, several of the interceptions occurred at different times and locations throughout the South-West states.
“Other items seized include 343,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 7,150 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 32 units of used vehicles, 120 bags of sugar, and 3,560 cartons of poultry products,” the Oladeji said.
He mentioned that four suspects were arrested in connection with the various offences, “including violating import/export guidelines, concealment, wrong classification, smuggling, and contravening policy directives.”
He revealed that the cumulative duty paid value of the various intercepted goods amounts to N3.6bn.
Oladeji stated that the unit also recovered N62 million in revenue for June 2024 through documentary checks and the issue of demand notices on consignments that paid less than the appropriate duties.
He urged Nigerians to supply the Customs with relevant and timely information that will lead to the arrest of illegal importers of military equipment, illicit substances, and counterfeit items.
