Tincan Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service says it has recorded the arrest of over 1442 Packets of Colorado Indica within the first half of year 2023.
The Command also recorded a huge increase in its revenue collection to a tune of an increase of Fourteen Billion, Sixty-Three Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Fifty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo when compare with what was generated in the same period of year 2022.
According to a press statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Okwara, the Command Anti-smuggling drive yielded remarkable successes in the first half of 2023. Being the lead agency at the Port, the Enforcement Unit coordinated several anti-smuggling activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders in the trade value chain.
The statement reads in parts that the Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command , Comptroller Adekunle stated that the synergy led to the arrest of a total of 1442 Packets of Colorado Indica with a combined weight of 519.45kg extracted during 100% joint physical examination of eight (8) containers.
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Comptroller Oloyede stated that the total street value according to NDLEA sources is N721,000,000.00. While the means of conveyance with the substance and two (2) suspects were handed over to NDLEA in strict compliance with the Service Headquarters’ directive.
He added that the command has zero tolerance for the importation of unwholesome goods such as drugs, arms and ammunition adding that the mandate from the Service as well as the protection of the Nigeria Society is the driving force.
He hinted that the Command have continually put in proactive measures aimed at keeping its frontiers free from illicit and illegitimate trade.
On revenue generation within the period under review, the Area Controller disclosed that the Command recorded a total collection of Two Hundred and Sixty Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Naira, Sixty-Nine Kobo (N260,256,942,120.69).
According to the statement ‘The first half collection in 2023 runs at a variation with the first half of 2022 with a total collection of Two Hundred and Seventy-Four Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Million, Seven Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Naira, Seventy-Eight Kobo (N274,320,715,178.78) on a difference of Fourteen Billion, Sixty-Three Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Fifty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo (N14,063,773,058.09)’
Highlighting the monthly breaking of the revenue collection within the period, the Customs boss explained that”The sum of Forty-Two Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand, Thirty-Eight Naira, Eleven Kobo (42,536,336,038.11) was collected in the month of January 2023.
“A total collection of Forty-One Billion, Five Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, Nine Kobo (N41,518,738,649.09) was collected in the month of February 2023.
” In the month of March 2023, the Command recorded a total collection of Forty-Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Three Million, One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Four Naira, Eleven Kobo (N42,803,114,544.11).
“While in the months of April, May and June, the revenue recorded are Thirty-Six Billion, Five Hundred and Eleven Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Fifty-Seven Naira, Nine Kobo (N36,511,681,057.09), Forty-Six Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Six Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Eight Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo (N46,485,639,728.79) and Fifty Billion, Four Hundred and One Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Fifty Kobo (N50,401,432,103.50) respectively”.
He added that “It is imperative and worthy of note to mention the critical roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation Unit, Customs Police Unit and Post Clearance Audit for their sustained interventions which translated to the blockage of revenue leakages by enhanced compliance towards the attainment of the revenue drive.
The Command also recorded an impressive revenue drive on non-oil export with an increasing 291,436.43 Metric tonnes (MT) through Free On Board (FOB) between the first half of the year 2023.
Comptroller Oloyede disclosed that in terms of volume (MT) and value (FOB), the export trade recorded an exponential growth within the period under review.
According to him, comparatively, between January to June 2023, the tonnage of the goods exported through Tin Can Island Port Complex (TICPC) increased from 138,246.5 (MT) to 291,436.43 (MT) ; representing an increase of 110.8% over the previous year under review.
The Area Controller similarly, noted that there was an increase in the FOB value of the year exports, noting that the FOB increased from N110,447,250,811 in the first half of 2022 to N182,333,764,943 in the first half of 2023, representing an increase of 65%.
He stated that increase of commodities exported from the command essentially includes agricultural and other allied products namely; Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nut, Sesame Seeds, Rubber, Empty bottles and copper ingots.
He explained that within the period under review, the Command participated in several symposiums to incentive non-oil export, the Command participated in the CBN RT200fx where a lot of benefits to export trade were highlighted.
He however congratulates the Service for a smooth transition which occurred recently and sincerely appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team for all the supports the Command have been enjoying from the Headquarters.
