MMIA Customs Rakes In N30.5b, Intercepts Drones, Military Wares From Smugglers

IBy Asuquo Nuwak

MMIA Customs Rakes In N30.5b, Intercepts Drones, Military Wares From Smugglers

•• Arrest 3 suspects

Comptroller Charles Orbih, The Customs Area Controller of Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, presented seized bullet proof vests, artifacts , elephant tusks and other seizures to journalists in Lagos.

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of Nigeria Customs Service records a total sum of N30,503,507,399.09 as revenue from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The command made 125 seizures, ranging from sophisticated drones, military wares, artefacts and other items.

Compt. Charles Orbih, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, also said the command will continually intercept goods brought to the airport in contravention of the law.

Going further, the CAC stated that the 2023 revenue collection surpassed the N29,148,944,769.82 target set for the command by N1,354,562,629.27 which is equivalent to a five percent increase.

He added that a comparative analysis of the revenue collected for the corresponding year 2022 which was N20,898,557,880.11 shows an increase of 46% in total revenue collection with a difference of N9.6b

Speaking on the revenue performance of the command under his watch, Comptroller Orbih said the command has consistently surpassed it’s monthly target since he assumed office in September 2023.

His words: “Since my assumption of office in the Command, it is worthy to note that the Command has consecutively surpassed its monthly target from the month of September to December 2023 as represented in the total revenue collected within the period under review”.

“This is the first time in the history of this Command that in the month of December 2023, the Command collected an unprecedented sum of N4,768,922,080.68. This revenue figure is attributed to the doggedness of the officers of the Command towards achieving set goals and it objectives”.

At the media briefing, Comptroller Orbih,
disclosed that section 245 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 empowers Customs Officer to seize and detain prohibited goods. According to him, the Command also made 125 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N801,561,962 for the year 2023.

The breakdown of the seized items include
89 seized drones, 330 military and other security wares, 700 rolls of cigarettes each containing 10 packs that were concealed, 126 Walkie Talkies and their accessories, 87 pieces of artifacts and antiquities and 22 pieces of elephant tusks.

Further breakdown of the seizures include10,000USD counterfeit notes, handed over to Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), 8,800USD concealed in an album, 300 pieces of ladies footwears, 2 bags of precious stones and other items.

He said, three suspects in connection with the seizures were arrested, while investigation is ongoing before they will be charged to court as soon as it is completed.

He attributed the successes achieved so far to teamwork and cooperation, while expressing appreciation to the Comptroller- General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, for creating an enabling environment for the attainment of the various feats achieved in the command.

According to him: “The commitment and diligence of the officers and men of the Command, other Units including the Valuation Unit, Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) and the Customs Police enabled seamless operation of carrying out these enormous tasks.

In the words of Comptroller Charles Orbih: “I will like to appreciate the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), BA Adeniyi Psc(+) MFR and his management team for creating an enabling environment for the Command to actualize its core mandate of generating maximum revenue, suppression of smuggling, facilitating legitimate trade and national security.

He further noted that: “The Command will not rest on its oars in this new year 2024 by improving on its operations and facilitating legitimate trade, without compromising the security of the country. It is also important to appreciate the synergy that exist between us and other Government Agencies working in the airport. The cooperation has indeed boosted and helped in achieving our core mandate, thereby strengthening our mode of operations.

In order to move forward, he said: “The Command will continue to discharge its duties and responsibilities as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023”.

In conclusion, giving an insight into the drones seized from smugglers, Orbih said some of them have 5000 grams capacity with ability to carry weapons and first aid box. While explaining that drones are not absolutely prohibited, but said that the ones with 250 grams are allowed into the country but will require end user certificate issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser.