Customs impounds 37 luxury vehicles with N1.4bn DPV, others

37 smuggled luxury vehicles with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N1,374,122,679.00 and other items were impounded by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, the anti-smuggling arm of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The 37 assorted vehicles (eight Lexus Jeep LX 570; 12 Land Cruiser Jeep, all 2017 model and 17 Toyota Hilux) were smuggled into the country via unapproved routes. Other items were 12,081 parboiled rice with DPV of N149,007,658; anti-smuggling operations yielded 156 assorted seizures including Bales of used clothing, Indian hemp and used Tyres.

Speaking at a briefing on seizures by NCS, FOU Zone A and the CGC compliance team, Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, (rtd) said that the service would continue to work towards crippling smugglers and getting them out of the illegitimate business.

He added that smuggling is not a war that can be fought by the Nigerian customs alone but a war that must be fought by every Nigerian, explaining that the federal policies banning the importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders are still in force.
Ali said, “in the face of security and economic challenges, no responsible government will fold its hand while unpatriotic elements continue to engage in illegal activities that will further compromise national economic and security well-being of her people.
“This is a job for all patriotic Nigerians, customs alone cannot stop this, therefore whatever we do, especially major interceptions would be brought to the notice of Nigerians, so that the public can know the great consequences of what smuggling is doing to our own economy, this is one of the most terrible aspect of sabotage.

“It is not government because government acts on behalf of the 180million Nigerians, it is not customs, we do paper works we don't see the money. This deprivation is to the entire 180million Nigerians.

Smuggling is not a war that can be fought by the Nigerian customs alone, it is a war that must be fought by every Nigerian that is the only way we can stop this menace.

“What we need in this country is physical discipline, people do not have conscience, we are great because we are the largest in terms of number but in terms of performance we are nowhere. We are always ranked lowest because of our attitude. Importation is not done by Indians, if it is; it is done in collaboration with Nigerians.

“For every one Indian to operate; there are 10 Nigerians supporting him and that is why he succeeds. You cannot go to their country and do this, you will not go free, but in Nigeria, anybody can come and align with us and cheat this great nation,” he said.

For those who use violence as instrument of intimidation, the CG said the NCS operatives will not hesitate to use appropriate force to deal with any threat that is intended to obstruct performance of statutory function, saying, “We have instructed our men, that anytime they come under threat that would have to do with their lives or health, we have ask them to react and that is why we gave them weapons, we will fight back, let it be known,” he said.