Customs FOU Ikeja sweeps smugglers, impounds items worth N784m in 16 days
Anti-smuggling surveillance team of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has set new record as it impounded various classes of contraband and goods that were falsely declared by their importers worth N784m in 16 days, that is, between Wednesday 9th Friday 25th August, 2017.
Addressing journalists after a tour of the seizures within the massive premises of the Command in Ikeja, the Comptroller, Mohammed Uba Garba said “the result was a function of intensified operational modalities driven by field operatives fortified with credible information, who trailed and evacuated 27 assorted vehicles smuggled into the country through unapproved routes”.
“The smuggled vehicles include: Toyota Prado Jeep, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Highlander, Mercedes Benz among others, ranging from 2007 to 2013 models respectively. These 27 assorted Vehicles alone have a duty paid value of N228,215,429.1 only
Continuing, Comptroller Garba said “Our reinvigorated anti-smuggling operations yielded positive gains through interception of other contraband comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, Indian Hemp, medicaments, used tyres, and various general merchandise”. “Three containers were also seized for false declaration with a duty paid value (DPV) of N303,260,671.85 only. 16 suspects have been arrested in connection with these 54seizures.
“In the same vein, the unit through our interventions recovered N252,173,201.25 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 sum of N783,649,203.2 within the weeks under review.
Explaining more, the Command’s boss said “For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government policies banning the importation of Rice and Vehicles through the land borders are still in force”.
“NCS remains tenacious in its determination to enforce these policies. As we enter ‘ember’ month this weekend when economic activities strives to boom, let me use this opportunity to send this warning message to smugglers within south west zone to desist from such illegal trade as we are well equipped with all necessary arsenal to cripple Smugglers and send them out of their illegitimate businesses.
Part of the tour saw the handing over of the impounded illicit drugs and others to relevant authorities including NAFDAC and NDLEA for further investigations and possible arraignment of arrested accomplices.
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba however, thanked the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management Team of the NCS for providing necessary incentives and logistics that brought about the rising level of success recorded by the command.
REPORT OF SEIZURES AND DETENTIONS
FROM WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST TO FRIDAY 25THAUGUST 2017
| S/N | DETAILS OF GOODS | QUANTITY | NO. OF SEIZURES | DPV |
| 1. | Assorted Vehicles | 27 units | 5 | N 228,215,429.1
|
| 2. | Bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each | 1,237bags | 23 | N15,257,198.85
|
| 3. | Bales of second hand clothing and lace materials | 137 bales | 9 | N27,288,000.00 |
| 4. | Used tyres | 523 pieces | 4 | N 2,824,200 |
| 5. | Indian Hemp
|
147 sacks of 10kg each and 120 parcels of 1kg each | 3
|
N72,960,000 |
| 6 . | Man truck Reg. No. SMK 412 XC carrying one thousand two hundred and forty three (1,393) cartons of frozen poultry products | 1,393 cartons | 4 | N 10,029,600 |
| 7. | 1x40ft container No. FCIU8437297 carrying three 3 used cars together with some other contraband | 1 | N 5,859,950 | |
| 8. | 1x40ft container No. TCLU178477/5 carrying three hundred and eight (308) pieces of used truck tyres and tubes | 308 pieces | 1 | N 33,264,000 |
| 9. | 1x40ft container No. PCIU 1884380 carrying eight hundred and fifty eight (858) cartons of rechargeable inverter battery rock | 858 cartons | 1 | N 123,552,000 |
| 10. | Two (2) truck carrying (1,104) cartons of medicaments of different types | 1,104 cartons | 2 | N 12,135,603 |
| 11
. |
Total | 48 | N531,476,100.95 |
NOTE
DPV N N531,476,100.95
RECOVERED AMOUNT N 252,173,201.25
TOTAL N783,649,203.2
TOTAL SEIZURE 54
SUSPECTS 16
