Customs seize 20 containers of expired tomatoes in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCoS) seized 1,600 drums of expired tomato concentrate hidden in 20 containers.

The illicit shipment was apprehended at the Port and Terminal Multi Services Limited (PTML) in Lagos, leading to the arrest of one suspect.

According to the Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the cargo is believed to be associated with a company named Nikecristy Investment Limited.

Adeniyi provided comments during a tour of the seizure conducted for journalists at PTML.

“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,” he stated.

He mentioned that the containers, imported from Spain, hold a Duty-Paid Value (DPV) exceeding N116.2 million.

“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,” he said.

The containers implicated in this unlawful importation bear the following numbers: 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.