The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, based in Owerri; Imo state has recorded 76 seizures worth over N1.3billion and made 18 arrests with17 cases in court between January and June, 2013.
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, based in Owerri; Imo state has recorded 76 seizures worth over N1.3billion and made 18 arrests with17 cases in court between January and June, 2013.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command; Ify Onuigbo and made available to Shipping Position Daily , over the weekend disclosed that barely a week after his deployment as the officer in charge of the zone, in February 2013, the controller Mr Victor Dimka recorded eight seizures with duty paid value of over N164 million.
In March 2013, the team made 21 seizures worth more than N226.5million an astounding figure compared to the N10.3million recorded same month in 2012.
The zone also made an unprecedented 22 seizures with duty paid value in excess of N220.3million in April, 2013. In May and June, 2013, the controller’s crack team hauled 11 and seven seizures,worth over N131.5million and N141million respectively
The statement quoted the zone’s boss as saying that: “No customs officer worth his salt can afford to relent until smuggling is reduced to its barest minimum”. He reiterated that his mandate in the zone is to personally declare onslaught against the canker worm called smuggling which he said has caused havoc to the economy of this nation.
Commending the Customs management, Dimka said: ‘’All these efforts would not have been possible but for bolstered morale from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi which has restructured and repositioned anti-smuggling units to play huge role in Customs service, as sophisticated equipment are provided to combat smuggling and officers ably trained in intelligence information gathering’’.
“When the smugglers noticed that the terrain was becoming too tough for them, they changed tactics; equally we changed our operational methodology. This is due to the cooperation we are receiving from our sister agencies,” Dimka disclosed.
Not relenting, Dimka insisted that no smuggler would beat the eagle eyes of Customs officers, because it is either they relocate or give up their game.
Only recently, the unit seized a 40-foot container, stocked with foreign foot wears with duty paid value of N103.8 million; and another 40-foot container of assorted foreign textiles worth over N118 million.
"The trailer with registration number RUM 112 XA, was loaded with sacks and cartons of foot wears numbering about 260, arrested at about 2am on July 13, 2013, along Eleme-Aba road", Dimka said.
He expressed shock that smugglers do not want to heed to advice against smuggling, stressing that no matter how wealthy the importer may be, N103.8 million will no doubt affect his business adversely.
The Customs Controller was particularly irked that some notable transport companies which allow their vehicles to be used for transporting smuggled goods instead of passengers and non-contraband goods, especially those injurious to people’s health.
He pointed out that the unit has commenced investigation on two vehicles, belonging to two transport companies, used to convey seized second hand clothings.
He warned transporters to stop employing drivers that would cause havoc to their businesses as any vehicle arrested with contraband would equally be seized. “We are going to confiscate the buses used to transport the products and this means a big loss to the owners.”
"Smuggling is not only injurious to people’s health but to the nation’s economy. So long as Nigerians continue to prefer imported goods to the locally manufactured ones, and so long as Nigerian businessmen remain greedy, smuggling will continue", Dimka asserted.
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