Is a car seized by Customs retrievable?

Segun Oladipupo. |.

Is it possible for owner of a car seized by Customs to retrieve his car?

That is evasion of duty by such a person. The truth is that the car is not retrievable.

Owner of a car under detention has thirty days grace to present his documents that the car in question has paid all necessary duties on the car.

If an owner has presented such documents, he will be allowed to take his car away but if not, the Service will approach a court of competent jurisdiction where the car will be forfeited to the federal government and such car becomes the property of the federal government.

Such a car will be auctioned through the electronic auction platform.

Recall that there used to be a window where owners of cars under detention will be able to pay for the car if duty was yet to be paid before interception.

But the the window has since been closed which means that owners of seized cars can no longer pay duties after seizure.

They are advised to make sure that the customs documents are genuine and all necessary duties are paid before a buyer pays for a car.

He is lucky that he is not being held as a suspect and maybe later charged to court for the offence.

What is detention?

Detention is when an arrest is made and an item so arrested is held pending the conclusion of an investigation.

What is forfeiture?

Forfeiture is when a stakeholder loses the ownership of an item whose importation infringes on the established laws guiding legitimate trade and trade facilitation.

What happens to means of conveyance?

The means of conveyance is a vehicle used to convey illegitimate goods which is also seized alongside the prohibited goods so conveyed.

What is underpayment?

Underpayment is when the duty paid is less or far less than what the stakeholder is expected to pay.

Concealment is a process meant to hide the uncustomed goods from the sight of the officers meant to examine the consignment