FOU Zone A Seizes Contraband worth N1.1 Billion DPV in Five Weeks

 Tayo Oladipupo     |      

 The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted 143 contrabands worth over N1.1 billion between 13th June and 24th July, 2018.

The seized items include 21 exotic cars, 9,504 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 436 Jerry cans of vegetable oil, 333 cartons of frozen poultry products, 287 bales of used clothing and 198 pieces of used tyres, among others.

The Operations Unit of the Service said that the command recovered N67, 375, 070, .05 revenue for the government in the course of the seizures within the period.

The Service said that the items had Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, one hundred and twenty million, seven hundred and fourteen thousand, three hundred and thirty-eight Naira, and twelve kobo. (N1, 120, 714, 338.12).

While conducting journalists round the seizures, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba said while some of the items were intercepted along Ijebu Ode expressway, in Ogun state, others were evacuated from Oluwalogbon Motors in Ikeja, Lagos based on credible information.

He added that ten suspects were arrested in connection with all the seizures saying some had been released on administrative bail while the rest are still held up in the service detention facility.

Mohammed maintained that the officers and men of the command intercepted an Iveco Truck with registration number LAM 283 LG along Ijebu-Ode Road carrying 498 cartons of CSP Codeine Cough Syrup 100 ml with each carton containing 200 bottles.

He said the substance is valued at one hundred and ninety-nine million, two hundred thousand naira only with two suspects in its custody.

He further stated that the substance and the suspects would be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and prosecution in court of competent jurisdiction.

Mohammed said, “Also, two containers were seized while 1/40 container with no PCIU922650/8 was seized for carrying 525 bales of second hand clothing as against used more cycles declared in SGD.

“A forty-foot container with number PCIU871664/5 was seized for carrying eleven jumbo bales of jeans, 365 cartons of new clippers, 145 cartons of new bags as against adhesive dressing declared.

“Within the period under review, we have also recovered sixty-seven million, three hundred and seventy-five Lobo. Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with these 143 seizures,” he stated.

Meanwhile, many rice smugglers who are being investigated in a re-directed strategy on anti-smuggling operation have been arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Mr Joseph Attah, the NSC Public Relations Officer, the suspects were undergoing investigation on their illegal border trade activities.

Attah said the smuggling of rice had become one of the most challenging undertakings because of the searchlight the service placed on the illicit trade.

According to him, tracking the smugglers is also a challenging task personnel face due to the porous nature of the country’s borders.

Attah said in Abuja that the service had made tremendous efforts to deal with rice smuggling in the country.

He said the un-cooperating dispositions of neighbouring countries and attitudes of unpatriotic Nigerians at the border communities had made the fight more herculean.

The service, he said, had adopted new strategy aimed at deepening the success story.

“We have re-sharpened our strategy on rice anti-smuggling. In recent past, 50 vehicles have been issued to the service by the Federal Government to curtail rice smuggling.

“The federal government has also approved the purchase of another set of 68 vehicles to improve deployment and response time.

“We are also aware that there is an ongoing effort to purchase another set of 70 vehicles for Joint Rice Anti-Smuggling Operation,” Attah said.

Attah said the service had sustained crack down on suspected smugglers across the country as a result of the improved logistics.

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