Customs Strike Force Zone “A” Seizes N516bn Sativa Cannabis
* Makes N9bn seizures in 2022
*Records 55% increase in revenue
* Sets to surpass record in 2023
By Frank Odinukaeze
The Comptroller Yusuf led Customs’ Strikes Force ,Zone ,”A” has bursted a devious snuggling cartel ,arresting a truck load of Cannabis Sativa,with duty paid value of Five hundred and sixteenth million, six hundred thousand naira (N516,600,000).
The Comptroller General Strike Force Team ,also seized various goods with a total duty paid value of nine billion, one hundred and twenty-two million, seven hundred and ten thousand, three hundred and fifty- naira (N9, 122,710,355) in 2022.
Comptroller Mohammed Sani Yusuf revealed this in a press briefing on Wednesday in Lagos.
The CGC Team Leader, said the seizures include, 225mg of Tramadol, 100mg of Sildenafil Citrate, Codeine Cough syrup, used tyres and bales of secondhand clothing.
Others are bags of foreign parboiled rice, containers of timber, Pangolin scales, slabs of donkey skin and Cannabis Sativa, among others.
Aside seizures, Compt. Yusuf, disclosed that the team generated Five billion, eight hundred and forty-three million, five hundred and twenty thousand, four hundred and seventy-seven naira (N5,843,520,477) through demand notices( DN) from January to December, last year.
The controller hinted that the 2022 revenue witnessed an increase of 55 per cent or N1, 928,966,233, when compared with what was generated in 2021.
He stated that the single seizure of a truckload of Cannabis Sativa was made to discourage the business of smuggling because it is capable of destroying the national economy as well as affect living standard of Nigerians
He noted that the illicit business favours only a selfish few who do not mean well for the country.
He warned all, Unpatriotic, importers and their agents who go the extra mile in daring us”,adding that ,
“We shall not only make seizures, but our ever-vigilant operatives will also get them arrested to face the full wrath of the law”, he reassuringly.
According to him, year 2022 witnessed a robust anti-smuggling drive, marked by tremendous success as highlighted above.
The controller stressed that,” For this year, we have already reinvigorated our round-the-clock operations, relying on our gallant and intelligent officers to suppress snuggling and prevent revenue loss, because our commitment to doing better in 2023 and beyond is hereby renewed”.
While thanking God for the modest achievement last year, he expressed gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) CFR, for assisting the team to achieve its goals through his logistics support.
He also showed appreciation to his officers who have been working tirelessly to ensure that the Team’s mandate is achieved.
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