The Nigeria Customs Service said last Friday that, it has intercepted 31 containers laden with rice but declared by the importer as yeast at Tin Can Island port in Lagos.
The service also stated that the goods were worth more than N70Million, even as it identified the importer of the falsely declared consignments as Messrs Destiny Limited.
Addressing journalists at the command on Friday, Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Mr. Dan Ugo alleged that the importers and clearing agents are the major problems to trade facilitation.
The customs boss further disclosed that the importer declared the 31 units of 20 foot containers as yeast, because such items attract 5% duty by classification.
According to him, officers of the command during examination confirmed that all the containers were laden with rice and not yeast as initially declared by the shipper.
The customs chief described the act as false declaration of goods, adding that such act would amount to huge revenue loss to the government.
DCG Ugo stressed that duty on rice is 10% and additional 60% levy, noting that from the foundation of the shipment the shipper has the intention to evade duty payable to customs.
He added that a total of 14,000 bags of Thailand rice were inside each of the 31 containers shipped into Tin Island Container Terminal (TICT) from China.
Ugo however reiterated customs commitment to trade facilitation adding that the era of false declaration of goods is over.
"Some of our importers and clearing agents are the people causing us not to fast track the issue of trade facilitation, because there is no way we can facilitate trade which practices of under declaration", Ugo stated.
He also disclosed that the service will seize the items and prosecute the importer for false declaration of goods.
On his part, the DCG Trade and Tariff of the service; Iya Umar called on importers and agents to be transparent when dealing with the customs.
Umar however frowned at the attitude of the importers, who embark on false declaration of their consignment saying that such practices hamper trade facilitation.
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