Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCoS) have successfully Seized 1,600 drums of expired tomato concentrate concealed in 20 containers at the Port and Terminal Multi Services Limited (PTML) in Lagos.
One suspect has been apprehended in connection with the illegal cargo which was discovered on August 8.
The said cargo was alleged to belong to Nikecristy Investment Limited, a company identified during the investigation.
The Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi spoke told journalists around the seizure at PTML.
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Adeniyi identified the container numbers as ACLU 2790243, GCNU 1275582, GCNU 1303278, GCNU 1336137, GCNU 1361905, GCNU 1316824, GCNU 1323314, GCNU 1324727, GCNU 1326210, SEGU 3388813, ACLU 2800629, GCLU 13218553, GCNU 1340991, GCNU 1353290, GCNU 1340991, GCNU 1353290, GCNU 1302570, GCNU 1308140, SEGU 3333426, and SEGU 3338351.
Adeniyi added that the containers, imported from Spain, have a duty-paid value (DPV) exceeding N116.2 million.
He said:
“On the 8th of August, 2023, during a routine examination, our vigilant officers at PTML uncovered each of the 20 containers laden with 80 drums were falsely declared as an almond shell to be a cache of expired tomato concentrate, deemed unsafe for human consumption.
“The audacity of the smugglers to attempt to introduce this hazardous product into the Nigerian market is both shocking and disheartening.
“As of now, all these containers remain in our custody, officially recorded as seizures. We have apprehended one suspect, Mr. Okonkwo Oliver Izunna, who is currently under administrative bail but remains under investigation.”
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