The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it’s anti-smuggling activities for the period covering February 17 till date within the zone has yielded positive results with record of a total of 98 seizures of 21 different items which includes contraband foreign parboiled rice, used foreign shoes, petroleum products, vehicles (means of conveyance), pasta among others.
Addressing newsmen on its achievements at the headquarters of the FOU Zone B in Kaduna, the
Comptroller in charge Dalha Wada Chedi said its operatives have remained resolute, committed and vigilant in the fight against smuggling.
He noted particularly the seizure of 372 bags of offensive rice that were intercepted by operatives of the Unit and deposited at the Kwara Area Command, adding that, ” Our eagle eye Officers and Men are constantly responding to the ever newer changing tactics of smugglers, who deploys ever new methods in concealing smuggled rice in local flour sacks to disguise the smuggled rice as flour”.
The Comptroller said that they combine an effective intelligence network in combating and exposing the rice smugglers, stressing that they remain resolute and will not relent as there is no amount of trick, blackmail or orchestrated attacks that will dampen their resolve.
“I say to those die-hard smugglers that sponsor mobs to attack our operatives and/or organise to stage illegal demonstrations against us that they cannot and will not discourage and deter us from carrying out our job. It is one of two options, either these smugglers turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate trade, or have us to deal with and face the wrath of the law and the full consequences.
He gave summary of items seized for the period under review to include, 698 bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50kg each)
367 Cartons Foreign Spaghetti, Macaroni, Couscous, 136 Bales Foreign Secondhand clothing, 715 Jerry cans of Premium motor Spirit (25 Litres each),
65 Jerry cans of Foreign Refined Vegetable Oil (25 Litres each) 12 Unit Used Vehicles, 4 Units Means of Conveyance, 9 Cartons Chakapain Xtra (50mg), 425.5 Cartons Foreign Milky Creamer & Milk Powder, 136 pieces Foreign used Tyres.
Other items include: 14 Bags Foreign Tiger Nuts, 151 Cartons of unregistered Alcoholic Beverages, 1314 sachets and 68 Cartons Foreign Butter, 40 Cartons Expired Foreign General Goods, 120 Cartons of Foreign Eva soap, 170 bags of sodium sulphate (25Kg each), 20 cartons of Foreign Dye Powder, 600 bags of Sokoto cement used in concealing of items O, P, & Q, 379 assorted general goods intercepted at Daura for being improperly exported, 400 cartons of unregistered Organic Fertilizer
“The Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these items is N769.46 million only”.
The Comptroller drew the attention of the general public concerning the act of altering VIN (Chassis Number) of Vehicles by smugglers to evade arrest or to manipulate the payment of duty. “I want the concerned citizens to always examine the VIN on the windscreen and that on the chassis (skeleton) of the vehicle they intend buying because it is an offence under S.236 (b) of the NCS Act 23 and the offender is liable to a fine of N2,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of two years, or both”.
“At this point, as Nigerians we must join in thanking the leadership and management of the NCS for graciously tempering justice with mercy so as to provide safe landing for those Nigerians found to have acted in breach of the Customs extant laws, in relation to the directive of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on the recent 90-days window granted to vehicle owners to perfect their duty documentation”.
He therefore called on the general public to utilise the 90-days window to regularise their improperly imported vehicles, especially in view of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fatherly disposition in the light of the current general hardship for which he magnanimously suspended the 25 per cent penalty previously imposed in addition to import duty on improperly imported vehicles; to make it more accessible to the citizens.
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