The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Owerri, said it had confiscated contraband goods worth N279.2 million in the first quarter of the year.
Area Controller of the zone; Mr Victor Dimka, made the disclosure in a statement made available to tShipping Position Daily last week by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Ms Ifeoma Onuigbo.
Dimka said that the entire confiscated goods were made in 50 seizures as against the 36 seizures made in first quarter of 2013.
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Owerri, said it had confiscated contraband goods worth N279.2 million in the first quarter of the year.
Area Controller of the zone; Mr Victor Dimka, made the disclosure in a statement made available to tShipping Position Daily last week by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Ms Ifeoma Onuigbo.
Dimka said that the entire confiscated goods were made in 50 seizures as against the 36 seizures made in first quarter of 2013.
The controller said the anti-smuggling unit covered the south-east and south-south states of the federation.
Dimka said that the zone made 50 seizures of contrabands with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N239.46 million and an under payment recovery of N39.80 million all totaling N279.26 million.
He said that 13 arrests were equally made in connection with the seizures.
According to him, the breakdown of the seizures made within the period at different locations showed 28 assorted vehicles with DPV of N50, 810 million.
Others include four by 20 container load of rice containing 1,758 bags of 50kg each valued at N21.66 million; three truck load of poultry products containing 3, 759 cartons worth N36, 086 million.
Also included are a container load of 860 bales of printed wax textile materials with DPV of N101, 58 million; a truck load of 1,497 pieces of used tyres with DPV of N25, 452 million and 163 cartons containing tins of vegetable oil valued at N3.30 million.
Dimka noted that the seizure was part of the determined effort of the customs to bring the scourge of smuggling to the barest minimum in the zone.
He reiterated the preparedness and determination of the officers and men of the FOU Zone C to tackle the menace of smuggling in the zone.
Dimka said that a formidable mechanism had been put in place to ensure that smugglers and those with the intent to indulge in the act were dealt with.
He said that they would be compelled to face the wrath of the law with the support and cooperation of all patriotic Nigerians and other security agencies.
Dimka added that the synergy existing between the security agencies, especially the Police, Army, the State Security Services (SSS) and NAFDAC would be strengthened to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum in the country.
“We have also embarked on local training and retraining of our officers, even as our intelligence unit is at its best to meet up with the challenges,” he said.
Dimka said that Customs officer are adequately trained and motivated to confront smuggling.
“The story behind our success is the cooperation and support we receive from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Inde Dikko and his management team,’’ he said.
The area controller expressed gratitude to the members of the public for their unalloyed support and partnership displayed on the area of intelligence provision which, he said helped in limiting the smugglers’ activities.
“No matter the tactics the smugglers employ to deceive security agents, they cannot escape the eagle eyes of customs officers, they will be caught, arrested, prosecuted and punished,” Dimka said.
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