LEXC Customs impounds timber carrying containers worth $295,944

Following the discharge of some export bound containers at the barge area of Apapa Port, officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command intercepted and detained eleven units of 20-feet containers fully laden with rough/sawn timber.

Making this announcement on Thursday, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, Controller of Lilypond Export Command disclosed that

the consignment seized on October 11, 2024 is estimated to having a street value of Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Four US Dollars ($295,944.00).

According to him, “The LEXC on November 1,2024 scheduled the suspected containers for hundred percent physical examination and they were found to contain raw and unprocessed timber which contravenes Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET).

“Particulars of these Eleven containers are TRLU9354677, MRKU9991028, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2179830, MSKU5051480, MRKU7071648, MSKU5894593, TCLU2543324, MSKU3929849, MSKU7323470, MSKU5953248, and GAOU2550990.

“Going by the provisions of Sections 148,149 and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 the detained containers are hereby being converted to seizures. While we are yet to apprehend the culprits behind this criminal act, we expect these seizures to serve as deterrent to any person or export trader planning to perpetuate similar offence.

“I assure that the long arms of the law would catch up with anyone that dares our resolve. This further 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.

“I want to use this opportunity to, once again, urge our Small, Medium and Large-scale exporters to take advantage of our easy processes and window of opportunities provided by the Federal Government to encourage export trade. 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” he submitted.