Lagos, Feb. 8, 2022 – The Nigeria Customs Service in Ikeja seized 450 drums of calcium carbide in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, enroute Aba in Abia State in January 2023.
Hussein Ejibunnu, the Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A (FOU A), Ikeja, told journalists on Wednesday that the explosives weighed 106 kilograms each.
He also said the explosives had a duty-paid value of N24 million.
Ejibunnu said the DPV of all good seized within the month stood at N517 million, while N86 million was recovered as revenue and paid into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices for underpaid Customs duties.
He said that the consignment were still under detention pending when the importer would provide the necessary documents.
“This is calcium carbide about 450 drums weighing 106kg each with street value of N24 million.
“The status of this is still under detention because the owner said he has an end-user certificate for it so we are waiting for the presentation of the EUC.
“It was intercepted at Ijebu-Ode on its way to Aba.”
The FOU A custom boss said that “failure of the importer to produce the EUC within the time frame, the service won’t have any other choice than to do what the law says.
“And we have to prosecute the person.”
He said that a suspect was arrested in connection with the explosives.
“It is important we note that this is part of the by- product for making bombs and with our eagle-eyed officers it is important to note that we have to be going after these things, especially those that are under restrictions that some people will use the opportunity to bring them in.
“We have a time frame within 30 days we have a suspect with us, let him get us the necessary documents.
“As soon as he gets the documents then no problem.”
Ejibunnu said that the unit seized also 68 pieces of military camouflage in January.
“Eleven suspects were arrested in connection with some of the wares, while the Federal High Court had convicted three people for the crime of smuggling.”
Ejibunnu said the unit also intercepted 2,135 wraps of Indian hemp weighing 1,163kg.
“Within the period under review, the command also seized 5,481 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each which is equivalent to over nine trailer loads, 47,750 litres of premium motor spirit, 68 pieces of military camouflage, 314 pieces of used tyres, 11 units of used motorcycles, 13 units of used vehicles”
He said the goods were intercepted along the border corridors of the South-West.
Ejibunnu handed over the seized cannabis sativa to an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. (GBN)
