The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja has impounded contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,461,006,823, within only three weeks.
Addressing Journalists on Wednesday, the FOU Controller, Mohammed G. Uba explained that items intercepted included 64 Exotic cars, 6,003 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 963 cartons of frozen poultry products, 431 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 163 bales of used clothing, 569 pieces of used tyres and 69 bags of sugar.
He also mentioned 570 parcels and 98 sacks of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) which has now been handed over to NDLEA representatives.
He explained that the Unit through committed interventions also recovered N166,207,735 in the month of March from duty payment and demand notices on general goods from seaports, airport and border stations via wrong classifications, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment meant for the coffer of Federal government, thereby making a cumulative sum of N1,627,214,559 within the weeks under review.
He expressed special commendations to those who availed the Command with the information which led to the evacuation of 2,671 bags of 50kg rice, using 9 hired truck from 9 makeshift storage houses in Ilogbo, Abeokuta, noting that the feat was truly achieved, based on credible intelligence despite resistance.
He also praised the Lagos Roving Team which led the task, complemented by other teams, recalling that there was a mob attack against the officers and men of Command, “but which never deterred us from performing our statutory responsibilities.
“We facilitate trade, not just seizing goods, so that we collect the revenue being sought after by the Federal Government and use the revenue to run the administration of Nigeria.
“The danger in the indiscriminate importation is that it deprive government of the desired revenue, aside the fact that it doesn’t give Government accurate statistic.
“Also, bringing in prohibited goods goes a long way in killing the local industry, and brings in unemployment. Some of these goods brought in are banned for health reasons such as drugs, all these brings problem to Nigeria and what we need is a sound society so that there will be employment, preservation of foreign exchange and a booming economy.
“Universally speaking, smuggling cannot be totally eradicated but we are doing our best to bring it to its barest minimum.
“We will continue to fight within the limits of our power. The fight is for all of us: the Customs and other sister agencies, members of the public and even the press. That is why we need accurate information. If you see anybody bringing in rice, you call us and we come there for investigation and possibly arrest and confistication of the goods.
“The seized bags of rice have already been allocated to various IDPs and the military men are the ones transporting them all over Nigeria, and if a vehicle stays long in the warehouse, it will be confisticated to the Federal Government,” Comptroller Uba stated.
