Anti-smuggling officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Lagos have
arrested 19 suspected smugglers over illegal importation of goods valued
at N107,513,308 between July 13 and August 14, 2014.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Turaki Usman, who stated this during the week said the seizures totalled 336, comprising various prohibited goods/items with payable duty of N42,937,110 and duty paid value of N150,450,418.
The command also detained various customized vehicles like Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maybach, Toyota Landcruiser and other luxurious sedans vehicles imported as used vehicles to evade Customs duties.
“Some of these expensive vehicles you see here were imported as used vehicles but they are very luxurious brands. The Federal Government ought to get at least N14 million as duties on each of these vehicles but the importers and agents declared them as used vehicles and paid in some cases a paltry N1.2 million. That is daylight robbery and we traced them in our system and got them. That is why we are here and our war against smugglers is continuous. This territory is a no-go-area for them” Turaki stated.
The CAC further revealed that the unit’s anti-smuggling drive led to the realization of N89,337,981 between January–August 14, 2014, adding that the figure represents a 6.195% increase when compared to August 2013.
Turaki further explained that a total of 5,722 bags of 50kg parboiled rice valued at N28,610,000 and duty paid value of N49,619,000 was seized within the period under review.
“Again 5,975 smuggled frozen poultry products valued at N28,610,000 was also impounded. This came in 28 seizures. For vehicles, we made different seizures of 111 of assorted vehicles. They are valued at N40,750,000 with a Payable Duty of N14,262,500 and Duty Paid Value of N55,012,500. For general goods, we have 201 different seizures valued at N11,265,808 with a Payable Duty of N2,288,110 and Duty Paid Value of N13,553,918. Others include new and used textile materials, wine, various soaps, used shoes, tomatoes, spaghetti, mosquito insecticide etc”, he explained further.
He extolled the doggedness of the patrol team led by Assistant Comptroller Ejibunu Kehinde and two other officers/men, pointing out their swift response led to the spectacular seizure of two trucks suspected to be carrying illegally imported 1,200 bags of 50kg bags of rice with DPV of N10,200,000.
“This interception was made at 1030hrs on Monday July 28th, 2014 along the busy Abeokuta-Lagos expressway. It can only take the operational ingenuity of diligent officers to even suspect that an articulated vehicle used in conveying cement could be used to smuggle rice”, he stated.
He further revealed that the Oyo axis patrol team led by CSC Osaje H.E, comprising other officers/men while on routine patrol along Basi/Iseyin road on Monday July 21, 2014, intercepted two trucks laden with 1,737 bags of 50kg parboiled rice.
On his message to smugglers, he said, “I advise smugglers in the South West to relocate or would face the full wrath of the law. We have spread our dragnets to all the nooks and crannies in our areas of jurisdiction.”
“They were smuggled through unapproved routes and had a DPV of N11,099,948. On Thursday 14th August 2014, following a tip off, the Lagos Roving Patrol Team led by A/C Adamu Abubakar Mohammed, comprising S/C Abdullahi Mohammed and other officers/men, evacuated seven trucks of jumbo bales of suspected textile materials from a warehouse somewhere around Oshodi.
On his message to smugglers, Turaki said: “Smuggling, just like scavenging is a global phenomenon. The Unit has all it takes to tackle this hydra-headed monster. and will stop at nothing in dealing with this menace”, he stated.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Turaki Usman, who stated this during the week said the seizures totalled 336, comprising various prohibited goods/items with payable duty of N42,937,110 and duty paid value of N150,450,418.
The command also detained various customized vehicles like Bentley, Rolls Royce, Maybach, Toyota Landcruiser and other luxurious sedans vehicles imported as used vehicles to evade Customs duties.
“Some of these expensive vehicles you see here were imported as used vehicles but they are very luxurious brands. The Federal Government ought to get at least N14 million as duties on each of these vehicles but the importers and agents declared them as used vehicles and paid in some cases a paltry N1.2 million. That is daylight robbery and we traced them in our system and got them. That is why we are here and our war against smugglers is continuous. This territory is a no-go-area for them” Turaki stated.
The CAC further revealed that the unit’s anti-smuggling drive led to the realization of N89,337,981 between January–August 14, 2014, adding that the figure represents a 6.195% increase when compared to August 2013.
Turaki further explained that a total of 5,722 bags of 50kg parboiled rice valued at N28,610,000 and duty paid value of N49,619,000 was seized within the period under review.
“Again 5,975 smuggled frozen poultry products valued at N28,610,000 was also impounded. This came in 28 seizures. For vehicles, we made different seizures of 111 of assorted vehicles. They are valued at N40,750,000 with a Payable Duty of N14,262,500 and Duty Paid Value of N55,012,500. For general goods, we have 201 different seizures valued at N11,265,808 with a Payable Duty of N2,288,110 and Duty Paid Value of N13,553,918. Others include new and used textile materials, wine, various soaps, used shoes, tomatoes, spaghetti, mosquito insecticide etc”, he explained further.
He extolled the doggedness of the patrol team led by Assistant Comptroller Ejibunu Kehinde and two other officers/men, pointing out their swift response led to the spectacular seizure of two trucks suspected to be carrying illegally imported 1,200 bags of 50kg bags of rice with DPV of N10,200,000.
“This interception was made at 1030hrs on Monday July 28th, 2014 along the busy Abeokuta-Lagos expressway. It can only take the operational ingenuity of diligent officers to even suspect that an articulated vehicle used in conveying cement could be used to smuggle rice”, he stated.
He further revealed that the Oyo axis patrol team led by CSC Osaje H.E, comprising other officers/men while on routine patrol along Basi/Iseyin road on Monday July 21, 2014, intercepted two trucks laden with 1,737 bags of 50kg parboiled rice.
On his message to smugglers, he said, “I advise smugglers in the South West to relocate or would face the full wrath of the law. We have spread our dragnets to all the nooks and crannies in our areas of jurisdiction.”
“They were smuggled through unapproved routes and had a DPV of N11,099,948. On Thursday 14th August 2014, following a tip off, the Lagos Roving Patrol Team led by A/C Adamu Abubakar Mohammed, comprising S/C Abdullahi Mohammed and other officers/men, evacuated seven trucks of jumbo bales of suspected textile materials from a warehouse somewhere around Oshodi.
On his message to smugglers, Turaki said: “Smuggling, just like scavenging is a global phenomenon. The Unit has all it takes to tackle this hydra-headed monster. and will stop at nothing in dealing with this menace”, he stated.
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Customs arrests 19 smugglers over illegal importation |
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