Apapa, Lagos – An attempted smuggling operation involving unprocessed timber valued at $296,000 was thwarted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the barge area of Apapa Port on October 11, 2024. Acting on credible intelligence, a joint team from the Lilypond Export Command and the Customs Intelligence Unit intercepted 11 containers of contraband destined for export.
Jibola Odusanya, Area Controller for the NCS, revealed that the confiscated goods comprised rough and sawn timber concealed within 20-foot containers. “We successfully intercepted 11 units of fully laden containers containing unprocessed timber. The estimated market value of the consignment stands at $295,944,” Odusanya explained.
The operation was conducted in strict adherence to the provisions of Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff, which prohibits the export of certain unprocessed woods. Sections 148, 149, and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 were cited as the legal basis for classifying the containers as formal seizures.
“We will never compromise compliance for trade facilitation,” Odusanya stated, emphasizing the agency’s unwavering stance on enforcing national trade laws. He reiterated that any consignment found to be in violation of Nigeria’s regulations would be intercepted and prevented from leaving the country. The Customs Service remains resolute in addressing smuggling activities, particularly in the export sector, to ensure strict adherence to the law.
Although those responsible for the illegal shipment are still at large, the NCS has pledged to track down and prosecute the culprits. Odusanya also called on exporters to adhere to Nigeria’s export guidelines and leverage the Federal Government’s initiatives to support legitimate trade practices.
This interception underscores the agency’s vigilance in protecting Nigeria’s natural resources and enforcing trade laws, sending a strong warning to those seeking to bypass regulations.
 at the barge area of Apapa Port on October 11, 2024.){kind=link}