The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, has seized goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1, 345, 572, 313 between May 16th and June 12, a total of 12 suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizures.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit; Comptroller Muhammad Ubah, who disclosed this while showcasing some of the seized goods to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos, also said that the unit was able to achieve the feat due to its reinvigorated anti-smuggling operations.
He also said that the unit, through its interventions recovered N59, 506,773.25 from underpayments thereby making a cumulative of N1, 405, 079, 086 within the weeks under review.
Explaining further, he said that four containers with numbers: PCIU850134/9, PCIU8278544, FCIU983753 and TGHU6924330, were also seized for false declaration.
He explained that while two of the containers were carrying 8, 633 pieces of empty cylinders as against plumbing materials declared in their SGD, the other two carried 120 bales of new jeans as against punching machine declared in the SGD.
Speaking further on the seizures, the Controller said:"The detained/ seized items include, 15 exotic vehicles including, 3 Toyota C-HR(2018 models), 1 Toyota Hilux(2017) 1 Ford F150(2017) 1 Pajero Jeep(2017) 1 Mercedes Benz(2017) amongst others. Other spectacular seizures include, 9,049 bags of foreign parboiled rice (15 trailers) 1,464 cartons of frozen poultry products, 870 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 273 bales of used clothing, 592 pieces of used tyres"
He said that the unit has beamed its searchlight to creeks watersides and other locations.
In order to ensure full implementation of government policy, we have re-strategized our operational modalities and beamed our searchlight at creeks, watersides and at various in southwest zone. Hence the reason for the massive rice seizure within the period under review", he disclosed.
He advised smugglers to desist from economic sabotage as the unit is committed to chase them out.
"We will continue to make sure smugglers within our area of jurisdiction count their losses until they repent from sabotaging our economy. As you already know, smuggling is a global phenomenon that cannot be eradicated entirely, but if all hands are on deck it will be reduced to its barest minimum"
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