Hyacinth Chinweuba. The Nigerian Customs, Compliance Team established recently, set to fortify the war against smugglers has raked in a total amount of N1,100,000,000 (One billion, one hundred million naira).
National Coordinator of the Compliance Team Zone A, B and C, Comptroller Azarema Ahmed, after visiting the zones on the task ahead, advice that, they should not be found culpable of corruption in compromising their duties, they are expected to discharge their service effectively.
The zones, which comprises of Zone A (Western Region) covers six(6) States, Zone B (Northern Region) effectively covers 19 States while Zone C (Eastern Region) covers 11 States with their various Team Leaders assigned to each group in the war against smugglers whose major aim is to submerge and dabble with the Nigerian Economy to short-change the government on duty payment.
Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hammd Ali (Rtd), in a concerted effort to reinvigorate the service since he assumed office has established a mandate on the aspect of repositioning, restructuring and reducing corruption to the barest minimum.
In a statement issued, said that about N263.5million was realized in one month as revenue. A front line Enforcement Officer, Assistant Comptroller Oseni Musa Ije, who has acquired great wealth of experience, the Eastern zone Compliance team leader, impounded 28 seizures of various goods which include; Secondhand clothing, Motor spear parts, Foreign parboiled rice, Frozen Foods, Expired drugs and Exotic cars of different makes.
Another spectacular seizures also made to commemorate the CGC’s zero tolerance policy, the Officer in charge of Edo Axis in Zone C, who have been adjudged as the “Most Credible Customs Officer, SC, Kaila Shuaibu intercepted 1x40ft Container concealed with 1,149 cartons of fake drugs estimated to be N14,046,585.00 (Fourteen million, and forty six thousand, five hundred and eighty five naira ), the counterfeit drugs statistical breakdown reflects the following; (1)10 cartons (2) Ostnim of 100mg, (3)137 cartons of Herogra, (4) 618 cartons of Diarriatus and (5) 384 cartons of Chest and Lung Tablet, imported from India, is said to be highly dangerous to human health and can kill quickly.
Comptroller Azarema, while handing over the expired drugs to the Officials of the National Food and Drugs Administration and Control, led by Mr. Godwin Tonwuru, the Assistant Director of the Agency, Benin , Edo State, sort the assistance of the Nigerian media and Critical Stakeholders to ensure the war on smuggling activities is won if information sharing is adhered to, to build a virile habitable society.
Mr. Godwin Tonwuru, the Assistant Director of the Agency, Benin, Edo State branch, while receiving the pharmaceutical medicament commended the Compliance team for their selfless service on the battle against all vices, saying that. the illicit drugs are not registered and has been banned from coming into the country, he said.
However, within the period under review, eight unprecedented seizures were made, these include; 3 Lexus Jeeps, 3 Toyota Corolla, 1 Toyota Camry and 1 Acura ZDX which are 2013 and 2017 models with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N71,425,112.00.
In the process of introducing new methodology to thwart smugglers antics, the crack team unleashed another threat for making new seizures of 2,977 bags of parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N39,475,020.00, and also in the list of intercepted goods are Generator Compressors with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2,100,000.00, while others are, 2,750 poultry products valued at N17,875,000.00 and 50 Bales of Used Secondhand Clothing with an estimation of N18,500,000.00.
Comptroller Azarema, applauded the fatherly support of the Col. Ali led Management, adding that it would have been difficult to achieve this great feat if the Compliance team were not committed, dedicated, with motivational mechanisms, he stated.
He advised those still involved in illegal transactions to engage in useful trades to avoid being arrested and prosecuted by the law courts, saying that the seizures became necessary because the importers made under-declaration, falsification of documents, underpayments and undervaluation of goods as well as Demand Notice (DN).
Azarema, scored the team high due to their commitment, resilience, diligence, dedication and display of professionalism.