Lagos: Customs Zone A command seizes 6,003 bags of rice, exotic cars, others in 3 weeks
The Customs Comptroller in charge Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Ikeja Command in lagos, Mohammed Umar on Wednesday, announced the seizure of smuggled 6,003 bags of 50kg of rice and other contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,461,006,823.8, between March 19th and April 9, 2018.
Uba also revealed that “the Unit through its intervention recovered N166,207,735.25, from duty payments and demand notices on general goods from seaports, airport and border stations through wrong classification, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment meant for the coffer of Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative sum of N1,627,214,559, within the period under review.
Conducting journalists round the seizures in Customs warehouse near the command, Mba disclosed that “The seized items include:Indian hemp, 64 Exotic vehicles, 6003 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 10 trailers), 963 cartons of frozen poultry products, 431 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 163 bales of used clothing, 569 pieces of used tyres, 69 bags of sugar, four containers, among others”.
“Amazingly, among the seizures was the interception of 570 parcels and 98 sacks of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa)weighing 1,550kg,along Olorunda axis of Ogun state based on intelligence making it the highest seizure of such hard drugs in the history of FOU A. You all know what would have happened if it got to the wrong hands undetected. In the spirit of interagency relationship, the seized Indian hemp will be handed over to NDLEA for further investigation.
“Also worthy of note is the evacuation of 2,671 bags of 50kg rice using 9 hired truck from 9 makeshift storage houses in Ilogbo, Abeokuta based on credible intelligence despite resistance led by the Lagos Roving Team complemented by other teams. There was mob attack against our operatives but that never deterred us from performing our statutory responsibilities. Thank God there was no casualty.
He assured that “We will continue to enforce the Federal government policies banning the importation of rice and other prohibited goods through the land borders regardless of any situation so as to encourage efficiency in local rice production, which will create more employment opportunities for our teaming youths.
Among the 13 detained vehicles include: 1 Toyota Land cruiser (2018), 1 Escalades Cardilac (2017), 1 Range Rover (2014), 3 Toyota Camry(2009,2010 and 2017 models), 1 Toyota Rav 4,1Toyota Highlander (2014), 1 Honda CRV, 1 Honda Accord, 1 BMW Salon, 1 Toyota Sienna, 1 Hyundai, among others.
The vehicles are still under detention pending the grace period allowed for the owners to bring relevant customs document. The interception was done while on information patrol at various locations within our areas of jurisdiction.
He noted that “These 13 detained exotic Vehicles alone have a duty paid value of N258,137,766.98 only. It will interest you to know that among the detained vehicles in our previous briefing, 64 of them have been converted to seizure after all necessary legal procedures were followed within the week under review, awaiting Court condemnation”.
“Additionally, four containers 3x40ft and 1x20ft were seized for different Customs breaches in the importation process. The 1x20ft container no: CSNU 106087/4 carried 2,260 cartoons of Gonca Spagetti made in turkey and 530 package of Rifle Energy drinks made in Europe as against baking powder declared in the SGD. Further investigation revealed that the container was never exited, we are still investigating and all those found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.
“While 1x40ft container no: PCIU 865957/1was seized for carrying 200 cartons of ladies shoes, 134 cartons of children among other items as against keyboard and mouse declared in the SGD, 1x40ft container no: FCIU 80992/0 was seized for carrying 2300 cartons of tiffany chocolate,385 cartons of tiffany crunch n cream biscuit as against “Tapet for fuel pump complete. These are clear cases of false declarations, liable to seizure and forfeiture,” Uba averred.
In his concluding remarks at the end of the tour of seizures, Comptroller Uba warned all smugglers/intending ones and their accomplices to desist from such trade malpractices and invest their money in legitimate business, assuring that “The Unit has devised other operational modalities that will give them a run for their money and count their losses and finally end in jail”.
He also thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for their logistics support and the entire officers and men of FOU A and other sister agencies most especially the Nigerian Army and the Police for their supports, resilience and doggedness that brought about this feat
PROGRESS REPORT OF SEIZURESOF COMMODITY BY COMMODITY
FROM MONDAY 19THMARCH, 2018TO MONDAY 9th APRIL, 2018
| S/N | DETAILS OF ENTRY | QUANTITY | NO. OF SEIZURES | VALUE | DUTY | DPV |
| 1. | Used detained vehicles of different types | 13 units | N 192,039,422.06 | N 66,098,344.92 | N 258,137,766.98 | |
| 2. | Used seized vehicle of different types | 64 units | 4 | N 680,501,134.7 | N 238,174,897.15 | N 918,676,031.9 |
| 3. | Bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each | 6003 and
69 bags of sugar |
60 | N 43,023,501 | N 31,014,799.7 | N 74,038,300.7 |
| 5. | Bales of second hand clothing | 163 | 6 | N 6,690,000 | N 1,330,000 | N 8,020,000 |
| 6. | Frozen poultry products | 963 | 6 | N 4,815,000 | N 9,630,000 | N 5,778,000 |
| 8. | Vegetable oil | 515 (5liters)
411 (25liters) |
5 | N 3,598,000 | N 1,259,300 | N 4,857,300 |
| 9. | Used tyres | 569 | 4 | N 2,276,000 | N 796,600 | N 3,072,600 |
| 10. | Indian hemp | 1,550 kg | 2 | N 62,000,000 | N 12,400,000 | N 74,400,000 |
| 11.
12.
13.
14. |
1x40ft container No. TCNU526853/7 toiletries, tiles and HTC fittings
1x40ft container No. PCIU865957/9 GROUPAGE
CSNU106087/4 1x20ft 2,260 cartons of spaghetti and 530 cartons of rifle energy drinks
PCIU805992/0 1X40FT container 385 cartons of tiffany cream biscuits and 2,300 cartons of tiffany chocolate cream sweet 137 cartons of block engine cylinder |
11 pallets 83 cartons
420 cartons 26 sacks of different goods 2,790 cartons
2,822 cartons |
1
1
1
1 |
N 8,926,800
N 5,185,800
N 8,670,510
N 64,260,000 |
N 1,845,960
N 1,031,400
N 1,734,102
N 12,852,001.28 |
N 10,772,760
N 6,217,200
N 10,891,895
N 77,112,001.28 |
| 15. | Total | 86 | N 1,082,483,726.8 | N 378,523,097 | N 1,461,006,823.8 |
NOTE
TOTAL DPV N 1,461,006,823.8
TOTAL SEIZURE 86
MEANS OF CONVYANCE 31
SUSPECTS 10
