The Department of State Services (DSS) may have begun clamping down on imported green coloured vehicles at the Tin Can Island Port. The DSS says that such colours are exclusively for the use of the military.
Clearing agents operating at the port confirmed to Shipping Position Daily last week that, apart from the vehicles, the DSS now looks thoroughly into other kinds of imports including; chemicals, bullet-proof vehicles, treated boats among others, classifying them as high security risk cargoes.
However, the clearing agents who spoke with our correspondent were divided on the issue. One of them who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the activities of the DSS may have started causing undue delay in the cargo clearance process. Another, who also pleaded not to be mentioned, argued that less than 5% of importers import army coloured vehicles through the port.
One of them said that “Whatever the DSS does is very sensitive, if anything happens in the country, the government calls on the DSS first before sending signals to the police”
“But on the vehicles, it is only the green colours they are impounding, and if you are having any importation that has to do with chemicals which could be used to produce bombs, they have the right to ask you questions and ask you to provide what you want to do with it”
“The people that the DSS are really working on now are those that have cargoes that have to do with security items. If you are importing bullet-proof vehicles now without your end user certificate which is being given at the DSS office, you cannot bring it out, even if it is a boat that is armoured or treated” the agents said.
Continuing however, one of them told our correspondent that “less than 5% of importers bring in army green or coloured vehicles, this is not enough to say that they extort agents”
When he was contacted by our correspondent, spokesperson of the Tin Can Island Customs Command, Mr. Uche Ejesieme denied knowledge of such vehicle seizures at the command.
Ejesieme however noted that “there is a strong collaboration and synergy between the customs and other security agencies because we are ultimately working towards national security”.
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