Hard times await smugglers who plans using the South East and South South zones as trading base. This is because, more than ever before, there is an increased wave of vigilance by customs operatives from the Federal Operations Unit, Zone C.
Under the watch of Bukar Amajam, a Comptroller of Customs,whose schedule is to oversee anti smuggling operations in the eleven states of the two geo-political zones,there is a combination of tact, intelligence and vigour in patrols and checks.
From the Benin axis through all the South South states down to Enugu in the South East bordering the North Central state of Benue, Amajam’s men are on an onslaught against owners and drivers of vehicles that have entered the country without customs duty payment.
For him its not just enough to escape through borders and port stations with less than the normal duty payment or outright evasion of duty,the chase goes on and on to interdict and seize smuggled goods.
The confusion among car dealers are high as some seems to have short paid duty on their wares while some did not pay. None is spared in the renewed drive anchored on zero tolerance for duty evasion and smuggling under the Hameed Ali led customs administration.
The positive havoc he wrecks on unlawful businesses by chasing, interdicting and seizing goods described as ‘uncustoms’ bringing to bear the full weight of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) is unrelenting
On the lips of almost every traveler is the need to have their customs duty papers intact as according to them, the ‘Benin Customs Officers’ (as FOU Zone C operatives are popularly called) must do due diligence by checking.
From its Owerri ,Imo State operational base, its been no dull moment for FOU Zone C asRecently the unit recorded 41 seizures of contraband worth of N543.18 million in the last two months.
He said that while 20 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N314.67 million were made in September, underpayment of N33.81 million was recovered in the same month
According to him 21 seizures were made in October with DPV of N228.51 million, while underpayment of N23.50 million was also recorded in the same month.
He identified the items seized in September to include vehicles with DPV of N211.46 million which were intercepted along Benin axis, 287 bags of 50kg foreign rice with DPV of N8.26 million intercepted at Akwa Ibom and Cross River waterside in Enugu and Benin axis.
Others seizures made are 1,306 pieces of empty gas cylinders in a 1x40ft container intercepted along Benin axis with DPV of N71.86 million as well as 1,901 cartons of foreign Eva complexion soap worth N17.67 million.
The October seizures include 5,733 bags of foreign rice valued at N146.76 million intercepted at Benin MFUM-Eleme- Isiokpo axis.
Also included are 330 cartons of Tramadol with DPV of N9.05 million intercepted in Benin axis, 8 bags of Indian Hemp and 6 cartons of Tramadol and Rophynol worth N1.18 million intercepted in Enugu in addition to six vehicles with DPV of N48.49 million intercepted along Benin axis.
Amajam said the items had since been deposited at the NCS warehouses in Enugu, Calabar and Benin.
He said that 30 suspects, including drivers and conductors, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
The customs area controller expressed regret that a number of flourishing companies lost their new and heavy duty trucks to the NCS due to smuggling activities by their employees.
He said this was because of the criminal indulgence of their drivers who used the vehicles to ferry contraband from one part of the country to another and called on companies to call their drivers to order.
He said that a brand new truck with 10 tyres belonging to one of the prominent manufacturing companies in the country was impounded by the customs on the road while moving bales of banned second hand cloths to a particular destination.
Amajam appealed to members of the public to always assist his men with relevant information on the unpatriotic activities of smugglers for necessary action.
He called on the media to assist the service in enlightening members of the public on the need to engage in genuine businesses, get proper information from customs on ways to do business and report any act of smuggling.
Amajam also advised members of the public who planned to buy car to verify claims by their agents from the customs before making full payment to avoid embarrassment.
The Controller of Customs in charge of Federal Operations Unit Zone C, have reiterated the customs resolve to prosecute the anti smuggling battle and prevent evasion of government duty in the South South and South East regions of the country.
He said this earlier in the year at his maiden press briefing in Benin while addressing journalists during a display of seizures worth billions of Naira at the Government Warehouse in Benin, Edo State.
The outcome of vigorous anti smuggling operations under his watch are like keeping to an earlier promise made.
The seizures which were made between January 2016 to July 2017 comprise of articulated vehicles, high profile cars, bags of rice, smuggled soap,compressed used tyres and general goods.
According to Customs Public Relations Officer, Chioma Onuoha, more seizures made by the command are in other locations at Owerri in Imo State and Enugu Warehouses.
In July 2017 the Comptroller said that the Unit has recorded 18 seizures with duty paid value of N141,229,000. The Unit also made recovery of underpayments to the tune of N24,575,796.
Others are a luxury bus intercepted with 69 bags of rice and 40 bales of second hand clothing. Another Sino truck laden with 460 bags of rice with duty paid value of N11,776,000 and also Toyota Previa car was intercepted with 59 bags of rice with duty paid value of N944,000.
While displaying a 1×20 foot container intercepted conveying used motor parts with cartons of foreign soap concealed inside Comptroller Amajam explained that the foreign soap was prohibited for trade.
He explained that import prohibitions have been put in place to protect the local manufacturing industry and called on importers to seek information and knowledge before importation to avoid being on the wrong side of the law.
Also on display were 3 exotic cars including a Bently GT Coupe 2014 model with duty paid value of over N56 million naira, Mercede s Benz GLK 2011 model with duty paid value of N9,235,963 and another Mercedes Benz GLK 2008 model with duty paid value of N7,715,838 under detention.
Comptroller Amajam disclosed that preliminary investigation reveal that the 3 cars do not have evidence of duty payment. He added that the nature of the cars show that it was bought by rich and influential persons.
He added that increased anti smuggling activities is presently ongoing in the various areas under his watch within the South South and South East zones with a readiness to curb infractions such as under payment of duty and smuggling.
For persons classified as revenue risks,importers of illicit drugs and smugglers of unwholesome food items like poultry products packed in unhygienic condition, Amajam is not and may never be their friend.