The Nigeria Customs Service has declared Federal Operations Units Zone D Bauchi as no-go-area for smugglers.
It also seized contraband goods worth N22.7 million from December 2018 to January 2019 in Bauchi.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone D comprises of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states.The Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, Mr Peters Olugboyega, disclosed this in Bauchi.
According to him, the operatives of the Unit, Zone ‘D’ Bauchi, apart from blocking and suppressing smuggling within the zone, “on 27th December, 2018, while on credible information patrol along Gombe-Biu axis, arrested one Mercedes Benz truck with Reg no. USB 498 XA, suspected to be carrying foreign vegetable oil and some local items.
He said that the total Duty Paid Value for the four seizures was N22, 713, 600. 00 only.
Olugboyega explained that upon physical examination, it was discovered to contain 550 jerri-cans of 25Kgs of vegetable oil classified under the Heading 1516 of Common External Tariff with the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N10, 650, 000. 00 only.“On the same day (27th December, 2018), the Operatives made another seizure along Gombe-Biu axis of one Mercedes Benz truck with Reg. No. GJB 35 XA suspected to be carrying smuggled foreign rice.
“Upon physical examination, it was discovered to contain 270 bags of foreign rice classified under the Heading 1006 of CET with total DPV of N7, 938, 000. 00 only,” he disclosed.
The Zonal Comptroller also said: “On 17th January, 2019, the Operatives of the Unit made a seizure of one used Peugeot J5 Bus with Reg. No. XLA 265 CA along Jos-Bauchi road carrying 15 bales of worn clothing, 3 jumbo rolls of worn upholstery materials and 3 jumbo sacks of worn hijabs classified under the Heading 6309 of CET with the total DPV of N2, 214, 000. 00 only”.
He further stated that the Operatives of the Unit on the 23rd January, 2019, seized one used Ford Galaxy Sharon carrying 39 bags of foreign rice along Jos-Bauchi road, classified under the Heading 1006 of CET with the total DPV of N1, 911, 600. 00, only.
Olugboyega, however, reiterated that the action of the officers was in line with the provisions of section 8 (Officers have the powers of Police Officers) and Section 158 (Powers to Patrol Freely) of the Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.
He warned smugglers and would-be smugglers to desist from the heinous crime and find a legitimate business because they would ensure that smugglers are out of illegal business.
The Customs chief reiterated the firm commitment of making the zone a “no-go-area for smugglers”, saying that the campaign introduced in December, 2018, by the Unit code named “BELLUM ORYZA SATIVA” has started yielding results.
He said that the successes recorded were made possible because Officers and Men of the Unit were in high spirit coupled with the recent allocation of vehicles and other gadgets to the Unit by the Management headed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali.