Customs Hands Over Confiscated Fake US Dollars, 148 Drones To EFCC, Army

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, handed over fake $1.2million notes and five Cryptocurrency machines to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The command also handed over 148 pieces of Unmanned Area Vehicles (UAVs) also known as drones; 112 military hardwares and accessories; two bullet proof helmet and two Army vests to the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos.

LEADERSHIP reports that the counterfeited foreign currencies were handed over to the EFCC’s assistant commander, Oguzi Moses, while the UAVs and other military hardwares were handed over to the general officer commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammad Usman.

Speaking to journalists on the activities of the NSC Command from January to April 2024, the command’s Customs Area Controller (CAC), Compt. Charles Orbih, said the handing over of the seized items were in line with the directive of the Comptroller General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

According to him, the importers of the UAVs could not provide End-User Certificate (EUC) from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

He further explained that one of the UAVs can be in the air for 72 hours consecutively and can be equipped with arms and ammunition.

“Virtually all the drones are abandoned and drones above 250gramms are to come with EUCs and whenever we ask for the certificate, they abandon the UAVs. Based on the directive of the Comptroller General of Customs and in other to foster interagency cooperation and collaboration, the command shall hand over some of the seized items which include drones and other military wares to the Nigerian Army, counterfeited US dollar notes and Crypto Currency machines to the EFCC,” the Compt. Orbih stated.

Speaking on the achievements of the Command, Comptroller Orbih stated that it generated N19.03billion revenue between January and April, 2024.

According to him, the seizures represented a 67 per cent increase in collections against what was recorded in the proceeding year of 2023.

“In line with the NSC mandate of revenue collection, revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, trade facilitation and national security, the officers and men of the Command under my watch, remained resolute and dedicated in ensuring the blockage of revenue leakages and the facilitation of legitimate trade through a combined effort in compliance with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

“The Command generated N19.03billion for the months of January to April 2024. This represents a 42% collection of the annual revenue target given to the command for the year 2024 and a 67% increase in collection against the preceding year of 2023. In our continued effort to block revenue leakages, the Command made some seizures and detention of the following items; Precious Stones such as Zinc; Lithium; Copper Stones/sand; 120 pieces of SIM cards.”

“Four drones with a duty paid value of N7.8million; one wooden giraffe statue and five bulletproof jackets with a DPV of N1.25million,” Compt. Orbih added.

Speaking after receiving the UAVs and other military hardwares, the GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammed Usman, said the gesture further strengthened inter-agency collaboration between Customs and the Nigerian Army.

“I thank compt. Orbih for his excellent effort and on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who sent me here to receive these items, I thank the Customs CG. By the time we hand over the drones to experts in the Army, we will know more of what damage it can do if they were in the wrong hands.

“If it can be equipped with ammunition and can be in the air for three days, then it was brought in for a mischievous purpose. However, this will foster relationship between the two organisations and we are happy these equipment are in the hand of the authorities, not criminals,” the Army chief stated.