Customs FOU Ikeja deepening seizures with new anti-smuggling tactics—Uba

The Controller of Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Comptroller Mohammed Uba on Wednesday, gave a graphic detail of how his men have succeeded in using a new tactics to defeat serial yuletide smugglers in the zone.

Addressing  journalists while conducting them round the warehouses where impounded contrabands were kept, he said “ From 1st – 30th November 2017, after intensifying our operational modalities to meet up with the current smuggling tactics most especially as the yuletide draws closer , we have intercepted various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,595,141,144.81.

According to him, “The seized items include: 64  assorted vehicles (mostly brand new),13,333 bags of foreign parboiled rice (that’s like 22 trailers), 1,390cartons of frozen poultry products, 835 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 15parcels of Indian Hemp, 1,101 pieces of  used tyres, 205 bales of used clothing among others”.

“We need to support the Federal Government policy on Rice, encourage   local rice farmers, the   millers   and patronize our own nutritional rice.3. Among the detained vehicles include 2 Lexus Jeep (Bullet Proof), 1Toyota Land Cruiser (Bullet Proof), 9 Toyota Hilux, 8 Toyota Hiace Bus,26 Toyota Corolla, 9 Land Cruiser Jeep, , 5 Toyota Camry, 1 Land Rover,1 Nissan Sentra, 1 Pajero Jeep, all 2017 models and 1 Sienna 2015 model and 1 Lexus RX 350 among others . These 64 assorted Vehicles alone have   a   duty   paid   value   of  N1,302,927,106.16 only.

Continuing, Uba averred that “While 57 vehicles were evacuated based on intelligence along Omole Estate, Ojodu and   Olayiwole Close Lekki Phase one, the remaining 7were intercepted while on information patrol along Ijebu Ode expressway and Olorunda”.

He was quick to reveal that “As I speak with you, nobody has come forward to claim ownership yet because we doubt if they have any customs papers on the vehicles, not to talk of the End-User Certificate for the bullet proof. Our Legal unit has already been mandated to investigate it and as soon as we get any head way about the owners or their agents, we will let the public know”.

He added that “A total of 17/20ft containers loaded with wood are under detention on the suspicion that they have not met the required guidelines for export”.

Also 1x20ft  container   was seized  for   carrying   385   cartons   of Tiffany Crunch n’ Cream biscuit, 2,300 cartons of Tiffany chocolate and Toffee Sweet as against Engine Block declared in SGD.

“This is clear case of false declaration which tantamount to seizure.6.Within the period under review, we have also recovered N108,306,018.25, making a cumulative of N1,703,447,163.06 within the period under review.

The Controller also noted that “In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration; the seized Indian hemp will be handed over to NDLEA after this press briefing for further investigation”.

“Five (5) suspects have been arrested in   connection   with   these   185   seizures   and   are   currently   in   our custody.

He used the opportunity to thank the Comptroller General of   Customs   Col.   Hameed   Ibrahim   Ali   (Rtd) and the entire management team of the NCS for providing necessary logistics that brought about the cheering feats.

REPORT ON COMMODITY BY COMMODITY

FROM WEDNESDAY 1^ST NOVEMBER 2017 TO MONDAY 4^TH DECEMBER, 2017

NOTE:

DPV                                                                                       N 1,595,141,144.81

RECOVERED AMOUNT                                        N    108,306,018.25

TOTAL                                                   N 1,703,447,163.06                                                                                                         

TOTAL SEIZURE                                                                    185                                                     

MEANS OF CONVYANCE                                               40

SUSPECTS                                                                             5