Customs FOU, Ikeja deepens anti-smuggling, nabs goods worth N200m in one month
Gallant officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja Lagos of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has raised the bar in its renewed anti-smuggling campaign within the zone in the month of June leading to the seizures of several contraband goods and others on grounds of false declaration.
Giving the highlights while conducting journalists round the seizures in Ikeja, the Controller, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja Lagos, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba said “In fulfillment of my promise during the last press briefing held on the 14th of June 2017 when I did say that at least every month we will show case some of our achievements in the fight against smuggling, am happy to tell you that after series of meeting with my field officers and reviewing our operational strategies to meet up with the current trend of smuggling, we have intercepted various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N200,995,641.8 only from 13th June to 10th July 2017”.
Continuing, he said “In the same vein, the unit through our interventions N28,954,448 from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that tried to outsmart our officers at seaports, airport and border stations through wrong classification, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative of N229,950,089.8 from 13th June to July 10th 2017,making it another spectacular breakthrough in anti-smuggling operations under my watch”.
According to Controller Garba, “15 suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures”.
He said “Within this period, 40 different seizures were recorded comprising vegetable oil, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled vehicles, medicaments, used tyres, and others”.
On why the tempo of seizures is higher, he linked it to the commitment, doggedness, resilience and diligence of the Officers and Men of the FOU Zone A for foiling the antics of smugglers who used different methods for concealment cannot be over emphasized.
He specifically made mention of the interception of 1,442 cartoons of drugs (Tramadol 225/120mg) in container number MSKU 98895 1X40ft and a MAN Diesel truck with Reg no. RRU 513 XA along Apapa-Oshodi and Ijebu Ode express ways.
According to him, “Only God knows what would have happened if these drugs get to the wrong hands. In the spirit of inter agency relationship, the drugs will be handed over to NAFDACtoday for further investigation”.
Giving additional details, garba revealed that within the period, “we have seized 7containers that contravened Customs law by means of false declaration and breach of import prohibition list by trade. While three of the containers carried 5,014 pieces of used tyres, used fridges, used double electric burner, the other containers carried 499 cartons of Eva soap as against Poultry Incubator declared in the SGD. This act of false declaration falls under section 46 (d), (e), (f) of CEMA Cap C45 LFN 2004, which is tantamount to outright seizure”.
He recalled that on Tuesday this week, “we intercepted one DAF Truck with Reg. No. DAL 543 ZX carrying 1,200 cartoons of smuggled poultry products along Lagos Ibadan Expressway. Similarly, container No. BOMU 588006/6 1X40ft conveying 400 bales of second hand clothing was also seized”.
He further thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for their relentless effort in putting round pegs in round holes, and for the provision of incentives and logistics that brought about this feat.
