The Nigeria Customs Service has suspended the transfer of containers to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone following the seizure of 56 containers worth about ₦5.53 billion at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
The suspension was announced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during an engagement with stakeholders at the Area 2 Command in Onne.
Customs said the decision is part of efforts to review and reconcile transactions involving containers transferred to free trade zones.
The 56 seized containers contained items including vegetable oil, used clothing and foreign tomato paste.
According to the Customs Service, 45 containers containing vegetable oil had a duty-paid value of about ₦4.25 billion. Nine containers of used clothing were valued at more than ₦1 billion, while two containers carrying tomato paste were valued at about ₦232 million.
The Service said some of the goods were brought into the country under concessions meant for businesses operating in free trade zones but were allegedly diverted into the domestic market.
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The development means no new container transfers to Tinapa will be approved while Customs carries out its audit and reconciliation exercise.
Customs is also reviewing the records of containers that have previously been transferred to the zone as part of the process.
The Service said importers, customs agents, shipping companies and other parties found to have breached customs regulations could face sanctions.
The Tinapa development comes as Customs steps up its scrutiny of bonded terminals and free trade zones over outstanding cargo transactions and the use of import concessions.
For businesses using the zones, the review could lead to closer checks on cargo documentation and movements before further transfers are approved.
Customs said the enforcement is aimed at preventing abuse of import concessions, protecting government revenue and ensuring that free trade zone incentives are used for their intended purpose.
