The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has exceeded its target for the year by One Billion, Eighty- Four Million, One Hundred Thousand, Nine hundred and Twelve Naira, Twenty- Eight Kobo (N1,084,100,912.28). 

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, made this known on Tuesday, 14th November 2023, while briefing newsmen on the Command's activities since he assumed office on September 18, 2023.

The revenue target given to the Command is One Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Million Naira (N1,966,000,000.00). However, the Command's revenue collected currently stands at three Billion, Fifty Million, One Hundred Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twelve Naira, Twenty-eight Kobo (N3,050, 100, 912.28), which represents a 55.1% increase.

The CAC disclosed, "The Command under my watch has made notable impacts in our key performance indicators, which are revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, and facilitation of legitimate trade."

He attributed the successes recorded to strategies adopted by the Command leadership to checkmate revenue loopholes in partnership with stakeholders to ensure compliance.

Under Export, Comptroller Bomodi stated that "the Command facilitated a total of 41,867.88 Metric Tons involving One Thousand, Forty-Eight Trucks of export products, with Free On Board (FOB) of Eight Billion, Two Hundred Ninety-Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty- Seven Thousand, three Hundred and Forty Naira, Fifty- Seven Kobo ( N8,299,767,340.57)."

"The Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) paid was Forty- One Million, Five Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Eight Naira, Forty-Five Kobo. ( N41,504, 608.45) only. The surcharge paid for the period under review was Forty Million, Five Hundred and Thirty- one thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Naira (N40,531,580.00)," He added. 

In the area of anti-smuggling operations, the CAC highlighted the Command's headline seizures of one hundred and Sixty-Eight (168) live Parrot birds and a Hawk, which are prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which Nigeria is a signatory. 

This is in addition to other notable seizures recorded between September and October 2023 which include:

3,805×50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice making about 7 trailer loads; 1,756 Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit equivalent to 52, 680 liters about 2 petroleum tankers; 1,379 of General Merchandise Goods; Hard Drugs and Narcotics (40 parcels of Cannabis Sativa).

Others include 2 used vehicles and 3 live porcupines, all with a duty paid value of Three hundred and Twenty-Six Million, Two Hundred and Seventy- Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety- four Naira (326, 272, 794. 00). 

Comptroller Bomodi disclosed that 6 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

The seized Cannabis sativa and suspects were handed over to officials of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.