Customs Lagos airport command rakes in N47bn in seven months

The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos has reported that it generated a total of N47.25 billion in revenue from January to July 2023.

During a media briefing addressing the command’s performance over the seven-month period, the Controller, Muhammed Yusuf, stated that the revenue collected accounts for 83.24 percent of the target set for the current year. This represents a significant increase compared to the same period in 2022, with a progressive difference of N6.91 billion, signifying a 17.14 percent rise.

Yusuf informed the journalists that the command successfully intercepted suspected dried shark fins and dried donkey genitals valued at N1.22 billion at the Lagos airport. The items were seized as a result of coordinated anti-smuggling efforts carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Regarding the seized goods, one suspect has been apprehended for each case, and investigations are ongoing. The suspect linked to the shark fins is a Nigerian, and the items were destined for China, while the smuggler of the donkey genitals is a Chinese individual headed for Hong Kong.

Breaking down the seized items, the customs controller specified that six packages of suspected dried shark fins have a Free On Board (FOB) value of N221.9 million, while 25 packages of donkey genitals have an FOB value of N1.01 billion, totaling N1.23 billion.

Yusuf emphasized that the interception of these items is attributed to violations of export guidelines and non-compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) laws concerning endangered species, as outlined in the NCS Act.

This incident marked the first time such items were intercepted by the command, and they were seized at the departure point after careful documentation checks. The shark fins were declared accurately, but the donkey genitals were falsely labeled as animal cow genitals.

Yusuf concluded by expressing his appreciation for the dedication of the officers and personnel of the command and urged them to continue adhering to the rules and regulations while executing their official responsibilities.