Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized over 2,149 pieces of used tyres which was extracted from two containers in a Dangote truck with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N11, 604, 600.
The Anti Smuggling Operatives of the Unit in a different operation also seized39 Commodities at various locations as it recovered twenty eight million, nine hundred and fifty four thousand, four hundred and forty eight naira, seventy five kobo (28, 954, 448. 75) through duty payments and demand notices on general goods from infractions.
According to the Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba while giving the details at a press briefing in Lagos, said that the total Value of the seized items amounted to over N200 million.
Mohammed stated that 15 suspects were arrested, adding that some have been released by bail administratively as others are being held for prosecution.
“To fulfil my promise given at the last media parley held on 14th June, 2017 when I assured that at least each consecutive month we will highlight some of our major achievements in the war against smugglers, I am highlighted to inform you that after series of meeting with my field officers we concluded to review our operational strategies to meet up with the current trend of smuggling.
“We have intercepted various contraband items with Duty Paid Value of N200, 995, 631. 8k between 13th June and10th July, 2017”, he said.
Some of the items listed include; 1,442 cartons of pharmaceutical medicament, 108 cartons of wine, 41 cartons of tomatoes, 37 cartons of juice which were not declared, 449 cartons of Eva soap and other items.
One used Ford Focus, 68 used fridges, 2,252 units of double burner as stove, 2,810 cartons of spaghetti, 1,200 cartons of frozen poultry products.
Others include, 400 bales of used clothes, 1,096 bags of parboiled rice of 50kg each intercepted in three trucks, 2,149 pieces of used tyres, 5,014 pieces of used tyres, among other items.
While conducting journalists round the warehouse where the seized commodities are kept, the Controller stated that some of the intercepted items were made as false declaration and under declaration of concealment.
The Controller called on the general public to help in the fight against smuggling activities, he said, adding, “You will agree with me that the war against smugglers can only be won if all hands are on deck”.
He however handed over the seized pharmaceutical products to the officials of the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action.
The Director, Investigation and enforcement of NAFDAC, Kingsley Ejiofor while receiving the seized items from the FOU ‘A’ boss, said that the drugs were not registered with the right authority.
To ensure they beat security checks, the consignments which were imported from India were with the inscription of the United Nations, UN, saying that the drugs are dangerous to health and can lead to death if consumed, describing the importer as worse than an armed robber.