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Nigeria Customs Intercepts $296m Timber Smuggling Attempt at Apapa Port

Written by Jerry Alomatu on November 28, 2024

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command, has intercepted 11 containers of timber and unprocessed wood valued at $296 million that were about to be illegally exported from Nigeria.

Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, Customs Area Controller Jibola Odusanya revealed that the containers, all 20-foot units, were intercepted at the barge area of Apapa Port based on credible intelligence.

“A total of 11 units of 20-foot containers fully laden with rough/sawn timber have been seized. This consignment is estimated to have a market value of $296m,” Odusanya stated.

The intercepted containers, identified by their registration numbers, underwent a 100% physical examination on November 1, 2024. The inspection confirmed that they contained raw and processed timber, a violation of Schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff, which restricts the export of such items.

Odusanya emphasized the NCS’s commitment to upholding compliance, noting, “We have a resolve not to sacrifice compliance on the altar of trade facilitation, as we shall always prevent the export of any consignment that runs in conflict with the laws of our country.”

He further highlighted that the seizure, carried out under the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, serves as a deterrent against smuggling and reinforces the agency’s zero-tolerance policy toward such activities.

This operation, conducted in collaboration with the Customs Intelligence Unit, underscores the NCS’s focus on curbing illegal exports and ensuring adherence to trade regulations.