The Seme border command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 7,524 bottles of bottle water worth N3.04million, smuggled into the country from Benin Republic into Nigeria.
The bottle water which according to the command, is prohibited from entering into Nigeria was allegedly smuggled for Chinese workers in Nigeria.
Briefing newsmen, the Controller of the Command, Compt. Mohammed Uba said the contraband were intercepted at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) joint border post.
Also speaking on the seize water, the coordinator, Seme Border National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), Dr Nurudeen Usman said there is a ban on importation of water into Nigeria.
Usman, who was curious that with the abundant bottle water factories in Nigeria, someone could import bottle water into Nigeria.
He said, " It us curious, but the explanation of the clearing agent is that the importer want to supply the products to Chinese workers in Nigeria. We can't call it water now until it is taken to our laboratory to undergo series of text."
"I don't know the intent behind the water, but they are criminals because it was concealed with attachment which is dutiable," he said.
He added that apart from the bottled waters, ginger drinks, 1708 bags of rice and 864 jerry cans of sulphuric acid were seized in the month under review.
According to him, the smuggled water has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.04million and was imported from China through Benin Republic to Nigeria.
He explained further that one of the vehicles used for conveying the contraband was a Toyota Hillux van.
He affirmed that with the continuous seizures, the right signal is sent to discourage other people from indulging in the unfortunate act of smuggling. He promised that the momentum of total compliance to all extant laws will be sustained to ensure optimal revenue collection, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling to the barest minimum.
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