Customs impound four containers, 700 machetes in Rivers

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Port Harcourt Area 1 Command, Rivers State says it has impounded four consignments and seized 700 machetes among other items.

It said the consignments, consisting of four containers with 2,965 gallons of oil, were illegally imported.

The Comptroller, Ibrahim Muhammad made the disclosure on Wednesday at the command’s port terminal in Port Harcourt.

Muhammad said the consignments had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N112.68 million.

He said the investigation showed the containers were largely vegetable oil concealed in ceramic tiles and some home appliances.

“We know the agents are licensed and customs have control over their operations. A case of seizure has been reported while we await further report,” he added.

The Comptroller also confirmed the seizure of 481 bales of second-hand clothing, 700 packages of machetes, and 107 packages of shovels.

Muhammad explained that the machetes and shovels were detained pending the provision of an End-user-certificate from the Office of the Security Adviser considering the 2023 elections.

The command also revealed that it generated N92.32 billion in 2022, 12 percent higher than the N81.31 billion generated in 2021.