Caption: A 2019 Lamborghini Hurricane siezed by Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has explained why the command recently seized two exotic cars, a 2019 model of Lamborghini Hurricane sports car and a 2018 model of Royce Rolls with Duty Paid Values of N324.5 million.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Apapa recently, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Abba Kura said that the two vehicles were seized under Number 8 of the export prohibition list.
Explaining further, Kura said that for items like the vehicles to be exported out for maybe repairs, their importer has to bring in declaration that was once made on the vehicle, even as he added that the importer couldn't come forward with that essential document.
He added that the importer of the Lamborghini opened Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) with the intention of paying duty of the vehicle which he never did adding that they have to bring in declaration that was first paid on the vehicle.
He also said that the importer accused the supplier of not bringing in the specification they demanded.
“They have to bring in the declaration that was first paid on the vehicles, so they couldn’t come forward with that. If they are to pay duty on this (Royce Rolls), it will be more than N120million because the invoice is about $312, 000, this is 2019 model”
“On the Lamborghini, they opened the PAAR with the intention of paying duty, but they didn’t make any declaration and they came up with the excuse that the supplier of the vehicle didn’t bring the right one they ordered for, that they want to take it back, the two vehicles are seized under Number 8 of the export prohibition list and they were seized, within the first quarter of the year 2020.
“But for the Lamborghini (2018) they have not paid duty and they have done the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to pay duty, but they didn’t pay the duty, they said they want to send it back, that it is not the specification they requested for and that the supplier supplied the wrong thing”, he said.
According to him, “if you want to take the vehicles out for repairs or something, you must show evidence of initial duty payment; if that one is done, then they can prepare their export document and then they will attach initial declaration for import, then we know they are really taking it out for repairs. Then by the time they bring it back after repairs, they will submit their invoice and we will see the value addition then we will collect if there is additional duty on it”
Meanwhile Kura said that there was no single documentation for the Royce Rolls stressing that the vehicle didn’t come in through the normal channel.
“For the Royce Rolls too, they said they want to take it out for repairs, but they don’t even have any documentation for the importation. And maybe to some extent we can even assume that the Royce Rolls didn’t follow the proper channel in coming into the country. Because as at the time this thing was intercepted, the window for those who have their vehicles already in to pay duties was not given before it was intercepted. So from all indications it didn’t come in through the proper channel, they are all seized and are now the property of the Federal Government”, he declared.
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