The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command, has intercepted 11 20-foot containers filled with timber and unprocessed wood valued at approximately $296 million, which were about to be smuggled out of the country.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) for the command, Jibola Odusanya, revealed the seizure during a press briefing on Wednesday. The interception occurred at the barge area of Apapa Port in Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the NCS.
The seized containers, with registration numbers including TRLU9354677, MRKU9991028, and MSKUS051480, were examined after being discharged from the barge area on October 11, 2024. The physical inspection, conducted on November 1, confirmed that the containers were carrying raw and processed timber, which violates Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET), which restricts such exports.
Odusanya noted that the containers were legally seized based on the provisions of Sections 148, 149, and 150 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. The NCS has emphasized that this seizure is intended to serve as a strong deterrent against future attempts to export restricted goods, stressing the agency’s commitment to enforcing compliance with national trade regulations.
The CAC also reaffirmed the NCS’s zero tolerance for smuggling, highlighting that the enforcement would continue to prevent any export activities that conflict with Nigeria’s laws.
The Customs Service has made it clear that trade facilitation will never come at the expense of national regulations.
