The Nigeria Custom Service, Apapa Command, has seized a forty foot container with registration number; DFOU6122880 carrying 2, 700 cartons of Tilapia frozen fish at the APM Terminals in Apapa, Lagos.
Briefing newsmen on the seizure yesterday at APM Terminals, the Customs Area Controller; Apapa Command, Comptroller Jibrin Musa placed the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the container at N22,193,384.00.
The Controller said the container was shipped into Nigeria from Turkey and that in it’s the bid to avoid detection, the frozen fishes were concealed with apples, but upon scanning, it was discovered to contain 2700 cartons of Tilapia frozen fish. He said that these species of fish is under import restriction in Nigeria.
Jibrin noted that the seizure was part of customs collective resolve to ensure strict compliance with government import prohibition rule.
According to him, importers of such species of fish are expected to obtain license and permit and necessary quota before making such importation into the country.
He said: “I am delighted to address you today as we unveil yet another attempt to contravene our extant laws by importers who take delight in making false declarations"
"As part of our collective resolve to ensure strict compliance with government import prohibition rule, we recently uncovered an attempt to smuggle Tilapia fish into the country. In a bid to evade detection that the 1x40ft container was laden with apples instead, upon scanning, we discovered this to be untrue as the container contained 2700 cartons of Tilapia frozen fish from Turkey, the aforementioned species of fish is under restriction"”.
He explained further that, “ importers of allowed species of fish are expected to obtain license and permit and necessary quota before such importation into the country”.
Consequent upon false declaration the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Command hereby declare this container with number, DFOU6122880 (1x40ft) seized while investigation is on-going to bring all the accomplices to book. The Duty Paid Value, DPV, is about N22,193,384.00”, he stated.
Speaking further on the seizure, Jibril said, “In the very lively spirit of inter-agency collaboration, we have opened communication with the Agricultural and Plant Quarantine Service, APQS, and National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, over this matter. I wish to reiterate that in line with the zero tolerance for smuggling and false declaration policy of Col. Hammed Ali, Comptroller General of Customs, we shall continue to uncover/discover and stop any attempt at breaching the laws as regards importation and exportation transaction through this command"
"I wish to advice all stakeholders relating with customs in this command and elsewhere to be law abiding as no stone will be left un-turned in enforcing government fiscal policy regulations” he said.
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