The Federal Operations Units (FOU) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja has recorded 54 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N783million.
According to the command, the seizures were recorded between Wednesday 9th and Friday 25th August, 2017 coupled with 16 arrest.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Comptroller Mohammed Uba explained on Monday that within the period 27 vehicles, comprising of Toyota Prado, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Hilander and Mercedes Benz amongst others were impounded. The command also recovered N252.1m duty payments
He said: “Similarly, our reinvigorated anti smuggling operations yielded positive gains through interception of other contraband comprising of foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, Indian hemp, medicaments, used tyres and various general merchandise.
“Three containers were also seized for false declaration with a duty paid value of N303,260,671.85;
“In the same vein, the unit through our interventions recovered N252,173,201.25 from duty payments and Demand Notices on general goods that tried to outsmart our officers at seaport, airport and border stations through wrong classification, transfer of value and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for federal government of Nigeria making a cumulative sum of N783,649,203 within the weeks under review.
“Let me use this opportunity to send this warning message to smugglers wishing to use South west zone to desist from such illegal trade as we all are well equipped with all necessary arsenal to crippled smugglers and send them out of their illegitimate businesses.
“I urge all compliant traders not to exercise fear while embarking on their legitimate businesses but to be honest in their declarations because as one of the enforcement agencies of government, we will continue to work towards supporting compliance with all extant laws governing imports and exports in Nigeria”.
