Customs impounds 6,206 bags of foreign rice, bullet proof jeeps, others
Between 4th and 31st October this year, the anti-smuggling unit of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Zone A Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja has impounded goods with total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,353,617,104.08.
This was made public by the Controller, Comp. Mohammed Uba, during a media briefing in his office on Wednesday.
He listed the seized items to include 6,206 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each which is more than 10 trailer-loads as a trailer load is 600 bags.
Others include “67 bales of secondhand clothing, 600 cartons of foreign poultry products, 13 parcels of Indian hemp, 405 pieces of used tyres, and 54 kegs of foreign vegetable oil.
Uba revealed further that “Two containers were also seized for contravening Customs law. While one of the containers carried used fridges, 270 cartons of refined sun flower oil, 55 pieces of used gas compressors, 18 packs of Juice, and other assorted items as against cooking gas declared in the SGD, the other container was carrying 147 bales of printed wax and 168 bales of lace materials as against new electronics declared in the SGD.
He said “These containers were seized for carrying contraband and entered under false declaration in order to beat the system contrary to the Customs and Excise Law Section 147”.
The Controller also revealed that one 40 feet container is currently under detention over the suspicion that it is carrying prohibited goods.
Continuing, he said “Based on intelligence, our operatives trailed and evacuated 59 assorted vehicles from car marts in Ikoyi among which over 40 are 2017 models ranging from Toyota Prado jeeps, Lexus jeeps, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Camry, Coaster Bus, Toyota Hiace Bus among others currently under detention awaiting relevant Customs document from the dealers within a grace period of one month”.
“Some are even Bullet Proof which requires End user Certificates from the Office of the national Security Adviser (NSA) and all the vehicles come with DPV of N1.08bn”.
Mohammed Uba thanked the Comptroller general of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) and the entire management team of NCS for providing the needed logistics to destabilize the activities of smugglers and false declarants.
Additional details showed that within the period under review, FOU Zone A, Ikeja impounded goods with total DPV of N1.21bn, generated revenue of N144.4mn, to make total generated revenue of N1.354bn.
There were 125 total seizures, 19 means of conveyance and arrest of six suspects within the period under review which is 27 days.
