Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Comptroller General of the Customs Strike Force in Lagos has disclosed a total of 103 seizures comprising 61 containers of unprocessed wood and 36 containers of charcoal between October and November 2021, with a duty paid value of N7,851,656,053
Coordinator of the team Deputy Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, said his team also seized a container of tomato paste that was falsely declared in addition to used clothing and unprocessed hides and skin.
“For October and November 2021, our combination of intelligence, diligent enforcement, and zero compromise disposition resulted in a total of 103 seizures with total duty paid value of N7,851,656,053 (seven billion, eight hundred and fifty-one million, six hundred and fifty-six thousand, fifty-three naira)”
Shuaibu also said the command has collected a total of N4.2b as cumulative revenue from importers and agents who attempted evading full payments from October 2020 to November 2021 from demand notices.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures with their duty paid values, Shuaibu said the 61 containers of wood is valued at N6,874,173,101; 36 containers of charcoal worth N381,916,500;1,110 pieces of raw hides and skin in 185 sacks worth N61,188,750 and a 1×20 ft container of batteries worth N19,163,052.
Among the seizures, were 4x40ft containers of second-hand clothing with a DPV of N566,700,000 and a 1x20ft container of tomato paste in 1,912 cartons, worth N9,703,400.
The wood and charcoal seizures were noted as the highest of such by any command of customs nationwide.
Shuaibu added that seven suspects that were arrested in connection with some of the seizures have been granted administrative bail.
He said the strike force team A is not unaware of smugglers desperation to carry out their illegal activities always, especially when yuletide approaches but they should beware that no matter how smart they rate themselves, his team will always be steps ahead of them to uncover their antics, seize their wares and arrest them for prosecution.
“We advise them in their interest to desist from these unlawful activities and embrace only legitimate trade. The more they violate the laws, the more they have us to contend with
“We will continue to justify the confidence reposed on us by the Comptroller General of Customs who has given us this task of protecting the economic life of our country and well being of the people”
He urged farmers and villagers to avoid the temptations of pecuniary benefits from foreigners who want to violate our green environment to advance the cause of their private gains.
