450 Drums of Carbide Seized in January – Customs
The Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted 450 drums of calcium carbide in Ijebu-Ode en route Aba in Abia State in January.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Hussein Ejibunnu, while addressing journalists at the unit on Wednesday, said that the explosives weighed 106 kilogrammes each.
He also said the calcium carbide (used for making explosives) have a duty-paid value of N24m.
Ejibunnu said the DPV of the seized goods within the period under review was N517m while N86m was recovered through the issuance of demand notices for underpaid Customs duties.
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The Customs Zone A boss stated that the consignments were still under detention pending when the importer provided the necessary documents.
“This is calcium carbide about 450 drums weighing 106kg each with a street value of N24m. The status of this is still under detention because the owner said he has 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.”
He said the failure of the importer to produce the EUC within the time frame, the service would persecute the importer.
According to him, “It is important we note that this is part of the bye products for making bombs.”
He added that Customs officials were on the lookout for prohibited imports.
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“We have a time frame of 30 days. We have a suspect with us. Let him get us the necessary documents. As soon as he gets the documents then there is no problem.”
Ejibunnu, however, said that the unit within the period under review seized 68 pieces of military camouflage.
“11 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the wares. While the Federal High Court had convicted three people for the crime of smuggling,” he declared.
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 and 13 units of used vehicles,” he revealed.
He said the goods were intercepted along the border corridors of the South-West.
Ejibunnu handed over the seized cannabis sativa to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Speaking after receiving the contrabands, an Assistant Commandant, Narcotics, NDLEA, Moshood Aluko, said, the agency would do its best to cover up the black spots that traffickers explored to bring drugs into the country.
“From what the comptroller said there is a black spot everywhere. We have to start, track and educate them. The volume is too much and we don’t expect much to be in circulation.
He added, “ We are grateful to Customs. If this size of cannabis is found in the system, it is not good. It can lead to mental disorders. You know in fighting drug abuse and menace, many stakeholders are involved”.
