Apapa Customs uncover pistols concealed in cargo

<p>The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it seized two pistols hidden inside a container and other contraband worth N506bn in the last six months.</p>, <p>In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, said the command recorded 16 seizures with a duty paid value of N1.4bn within the period.</p>, <p>He said the seizures made included prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil, and sundry items.</p>, <p>“It is noteworthy that the command made a seizure of two pistols inside one group-age cargo. One suspect is arrested, and the matter is undergoing investigation,” the statement read in part.</p>, <p>It quoted the Area Controller, Auwal Mohammed, as saying that the revenue collection and seizures made were fallouts of increased compliance.</p>, <p>He urged officers to redouble their efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitating, and strict enforcement of anti-smuggling activities.</p>, <p>Mohammed said, “The command made a collection of N9.2bn on July 20, 2023. This feat is the highest daily collection it ever achieved in its existence since the port was established. Service has collected a total of N502bn from January 2023 till date and made 16 seizures worth a duty paid value of N1.4bn within the same period.”</p>, <p>He added that the command under his leadership had achieved an increased level of compliance by importers, exporters, and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.</p>, <p>“This has helped in treating traders in line with their previous transaction records, which is reassuring that compliance pays through time-saving and cost efficiency,” he added.</p>