Customs FOU seizes N936m goods in 6 months

Gets new Controller
In line with its mandate of suppressing smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) said it seized 1,608 contraband goods worth N936 million between January and June 2014.
The command’s spokesman, Uche Ejesieme, who disclosed this yesterday also said 111 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures within the period under review.
The command also welcomed a new Controller, Turaki Usman Adamu, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, who was the most senior at the command, following the recent re-deployment of the former Controller, Nuhu Isa Mahmoud, to Customs headquarters.
Ejesieme said Adamu worked closely with Mahmoud, the redeployed controller, during which several seizures like rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, used tyres, fridges, spaghetti/noodles and other general goods were made. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) added that the figure represents over 50 per cent difference when compared with the seizure of the corresponding period of 2013.
He noted that the legal department of the command was still investigating some of the arrested suspects, while others have been arraigned.
Ejesieme quoted Mahmoud as warning all real and potential smugglers to avoid the command’s areas of coverage being Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, as officers are equipped to deal with them.
“We will go extra mile to deal with the issue of smuggling in view of its adverse effect on the security and economy of the nation. The unit will continue to justify the confidence, which the Federal Government reposed on us. The remaining part of the year will witness a further boost in our anti-smuggling initiative. We want to assure compliant importers that they will always receive the support of the unit while those whose stock in trade is smuggling will have a very hectic moment with our operatives,” he added.
“Our unit boasts of rugged and fearless officers who will not be intimidated by the hostile tendencies of smugglers. Again, we are enjoying the cooperation and mutual understanding of other security agencies. We also enjoy the firm support of the Customs management team and that symbiotic relationship accounted for the seizures recorded by the unit. The headquarter has provided us with the wherewithal in terms of motivation/remuneration, training and re-training, capacity building and provision of conducive working environment to the personnel’s of the service,” Ejesieme further quoted Mahmoud.
The spokesman, however, noted that the FOU Zone A has fully keyed into the complete automation package of the Customs with a robust ASYCUDA section in the unit in line with the CGC’s directives.