By citybusinessnews@yahoo.com –
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), zone ‘A’, Ikeja has impounded 59 vehicles including four bullet-proof vehicles in Lagos.
According to the Customs Area Controller of the unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, the bullet-proof vehicles were seized in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Conducting Journalists round the vehicles in Lagos, he said: “Our operatives trailed and evacuated 59 assorted vehicles from car marts in Ikoyi among of which over 40 are 2017 models ranging from Toyota Prado Jeeps, Lexus Jeeps, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Camry, Coaster Bus, Toyota Hiace Bus among others currently under detention awaiting relevant customs document from the dealers within a grace of one month.
“Some are even bullet-proof which require End User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.
“We removed these (Bullet Proof) vehicles from a hidden house in Ikoyi while others were gotten from a car park in FESTAC.
“Investigation will reveal further those behind the clearance of these vehicles and (they) must face the full wrath of the law.”
Mr. Garba further said the Duty Paid Value of the vehicles is N1.3 billion, adding that the service would seize vehicles through the court if the owners do not show up within a month.
Other items seized between 4th—31st October, 2017 are 6,206 bags of rice, Sixty-seven (67) bales of second hand clothing, six hundred (600) cartons of foreign poultry products, thirteen (13) parcels of Indian hemp, four hundred and five (405) pieces of used tyres and fifty-four (54) kegs of foreign vegetable oil.
He said:“Similarly, two containers were also seized for contravening customs law. While one of the containers carried used fridges, 270 cartons of refined sunflower oil, 55 pieces of used gas compressors, 18 packs of juice and other assorted items as against cooking gas declared in the SGD, the other container was carrying 147 bales of printed wax and 168 of lace material as against new electronics declared in the SGD.
“These containers are seized for carrying contraband and entered under false declaration in order to beat the system contrary to the Customs and Excise Law Section 147. Also, a 1×40 container suspected to be carrying prohibited goods is under prohibition.
“It is instinctive to note that a total of six (6) suspects have been arrested relating to these 120 seizures. The Indian hemp will be handed over to NDLEA for further action”.
The Controller stated that the unit through interventions recovered one hundred and forty-four million, four hundred and thirty-three thousand, five hundred and twenty-four naira (144,433,524) from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that tried to circumvent the law at seaports, airports and border stations through wrong declaration, transfer of value, underpayment of duty accrued to the federal government of Nigeria within the weeks under review.
