The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded 155 seizures between January and June this year, out of which 86 were vehicles comprising 51 cars, 25 jeeps and 10 trucks with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N674, 929, 278. 00).
The Customs Area Controller of the Owerri, Imo state-based Unit; Victor Dimka made the disclosure while briefing newsmen last week during where he displayed some of the items seized at the premises of the Customs Government Warehouse House in Benin, Edo state.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded 155 seizures between January and June this year, out of which 86 were vehicles comprising 51 cars, 25 jeeps and 10 trucks with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N674, 929, 278. 00).
The Customs Area Controller of the Owerri, Imo state-based Unit; Victor Dimka made the disclosure while briefing newsmen last week during where he displayed some of the items seized at the premises of the Customs Government Warehouse House in Benin, Edo state.
Giving an account of the unit’s half year performance, the controller said that nine suspects were arrested in connection with the seized items, while 24 cases are already in court.
Dimka said the seizures were made in Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Owerri, Enugu, Port-Harcourt and Calabar. Apart from the vehicles, other seizures are: a truck load of 600 bags of 50kg wheat flour and 150 gallons of empty rubber jerry cans and drums, which were deceitfully used to conceal 492 pieces of used car tyres.
He added that the driver of the truck was arrested and has been charged to court.
Also seized was a truck carrying more than 1,200 cartons of foreign soap and another truck loaded with bags of imported rice. He added that although some of the drivers of the seized vehicles are still at large; but assured that his unit has spread its dragnet to track them down wherever they might be hibernating in line with the renewed efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service to drastically reduce smuggling to the barest minimum in the country.
“Some of these seized vehicles that were taken in as abandoned seizures because their drivers absconded at the point of arrest, will be fished out through our intelligence network and subject them to the full weight of the law.”
“I feel so saddened why people cannot use their money for something meaningful and beneficial to themselves and their families instead of resorting to smuggling which is injurious to the economy of any nation including our dear country Nigeria”, the Area Controller said.
He said people are bent on circumventing the new automobile policy of the federal government by smuggling in vehicles and warned that most of the smugglers who run away when their smuggled vehicles are being caught will be traced through the information on their fake registration papers. He told the smugglers that the Nigeria Customs Service is better equipped today to tackle such challenges and many more; and pointed out that it is instructive that the unit seized 51 cars and 26 jeeps in just short period of time.
Dimka commended individuals and sister agencies who supplied some information that eventually led to the seizure of some of these items and enjoined them to sustain the spirit in the interest of the nation.
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