By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it intercepted from smugglers various contrabands with a cumulative duty paid value of N1,241,777,700 in the south-west region of the country in October.
Among the items were 7,381 bags (13 trailers) of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 17 imported fairly-used vehicles, 593 jerry cans (14,825 litres) of premium motor spirit, 657 pieces of used tyres and 167 (202kg) parcels of Indian hemp.
There were also 39 bales of second-hand clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, four units of used motorcycles, and 730 sacks of hide and skin (equivalent to 5,033 pieces) hidden in a 1×40 container.
Showcasing these items to the media on Tuesday, Ag. Controller Hussein Ejibunu said that FOU ‘A’ was sustaining its resolve to protect Nigeria’s economy by uncompromisingly enforcing the anti-smuggling laws.
“This is just as intelligence reports gathered over the years indicated a higher degree of desperation by economic saboteurs to smuggle during the yuletide periods.
“While noting this challenge, we have fully deployed the improved logistics supplied by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir A. Adeniyi, which provided support for our officers with strategic manpower placements to achieve our ongoing drive to suppress smuggling.
“Our reviewed strategies have been paying off, as reflected in the seizures recently made for October, which amounts to N1,241,777,700 in duty-paid value.”
Restating their resolve against smuggling and all forms of trade infractions ahead the usually busy end-of-year, Ejibunu stated: “I want to state that this unit of the service under my watch will make the remaining part of 2023 and beyond tough for smugglers in the interest of our country.
“In our continuous quest to prevent revenue loss through various infractions such as under-valuation, under-payments and wrong classification, the sum of N115,456,534.94 was collected following the issuance of demand notices to defaulters.
“Rice has been a recurring commodity on our list of seizures across various borders in the south-west zone. We were able to seize a total of 7,381 units of 50kg foreign parboiled rice from smugglers. This amounts to almost 13 trailer-loads of rice.
“A total of 17 vehicles were also seized from smugglers who wanted to circumvent the law by evading duty payment. For the avoidance of doubt, let me state again that the ban on vehicle importation through land borders persists.
“Our officers also intercepted 593 jerry cans (14.825 litres) of premium motor spirit. However, because of the volatility of this product, we have safely disposed of it in line with the laid-down due process.
“Other seizures included 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202kg) parcels of Indian hemp, 39 bales of second-hand clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, four units of used motorcycles, 600 cartons of GIV soap, and 730 sacks of hide and skin (equivalent to 5,033 pieces) hidden in a 1×40 container.
He appealed to all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to support the unite with credible information that will assist in battling economic sabotage.
