Customs seizes N818m contrabands in Lagos axis
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
More than 9,000 bags of foreign par boiled rice and other prohibited items worth N818.1 million were seized in May the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’.
The Unit also recovered N64.2 million for the treasury through demand notices issued on underpaid duties.
FOU Zone ‘A’ Controller, Comptroller Hussein Ejibinu, who gave the figures in Ikeja, announced that 41 suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures.
He said the Unit in a renewed vigor to fight smuggling, re-strategised operations to block revenue leakages and curb the import and export of prohibited goods.
Ejibunu disclosed that the Unit has adopted intelligence and meticulous documentary checks to recover lost revenues, intercept goods suspected to have contravened Customs laws, and to seize those that fall under the prohibition list.
“Citizens are, once again, reminded of the need to support and key into the federal government’s policy aimed at supporting the growth of local product,” he counselled.
“During the preceding month, officers of this Unit were on high alert along the port and the border corridors to ensure that the national economy is protected from the activities of recalcitrant importers and traders.”
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Various goods intercepted
“In the course of duty, various goods were intercepted for different Customs offences, ranging from accurate duty payment evasion, concealment, under declaration, false declaration, transfer of value, to smuggling,” Ejibunu added, per Vanguard.
“These seizures were made from various locations within the Zone (South Western States). Fourteen (14) suspects were arrested in connection with the crimes.
“The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is N818.1 million, upon documentary checks on some already released cargoes; duties found to have been underpaid were reviewed and demand notices issued, N64.2 million was paid as revenue into the federal government coffers.”