Customs intercepts 64 exotic cars, 22 trailers of rice, others worth N1.595bn

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- The  Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service,NCS has intercepted 64 exotic cars, 22 trailers of rice and other contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value, DPV of N1,595,141,144.81 between 1st and 30th November 2017.

FOU zone A, Customs Area Controller, CAC, Mohammed Uba Garba, (l)
addressing maritime journalists yesterday on the seizure made by the unit.
He is flanked on the right by Deputy Controller Enforcement, Dauda Ashigye. 

Speaking during a press briefing with maritime journalists in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller, CAC of the unit, Comptroller Mohammed Garba stated that 57 of the 64 exotic cars (mostly brand new),  were evacuated based on intelligence at Omole Estate, Ojodu and Olayiwola Close Lekki Phase 1, the remaining seven were intercepted while on an information patrol along Ijebu Ode expressway and Olorunda. 
Garba noted that 13,333 bags of foreign 50kg rice (about 22 trailers), 1390 cartons of frozen poultry products, 835 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 15 parcel of Indian hemp and 1,101 pieces of used tyres, 205 bales of used clothes amongst others. 
Mohammed Garba mentioned that the cars intercepted have a Duty Paid Value, DPV of N1,302,927,106.16 which includes two Lexus Jeep (Bullet Proof), one Toyoya Land Cruiser (bullet Proof), nine Toyota Hilux, eight Toyota Hiace Bus, 26 Toyota Corolla, nine Land Cruiser Jeep, five Toyota Camry, one Land Rover, one Nissan Sentra, one Pajero Jeep, all 2017 models, one Sienna 2015 model and one Lexus RX 350 among others.

Some of the exotic luxury cars seized by the Federal Operations
Unit, FOU, zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to him, “While 57 were evacuated based on intelligence at Omole Estate, Ojodu and Olayiwola Close Lekki Phase 1, the remaining seven were intercepted while on an information patrol along Ijebu Ode expressway and Olorunda. As I speak with you, nobody has come forward to claim ownership yet because we doubt if they have any Customs paper on this vehicle, not to talk of the End-User Certificate for the bullet proof” Mohammed added.

“Our legal unit has already been mandated to investigate the vehicles and as soon as they get any head way about the owners or their agents we will let the public know”.

The Customs boss further stressed that a total of 17 20 feet containers loaded with wood were under detention on the suspicion that they have not met the required guidelines for export. Similarly, a 1x20 feet container carrying 385 cartons of Tiffany Crunch n’ Cream biscuit, 2,300 cartons of Tiffany chocolate and Toffee Sweet as engine block declared in Single Goods Declaration, SGD were seized due to false declaration.

He however, solicited the support of Nigerians to help the Service achieve the Federal Government policy on rice and also encourage local rice farmers, the millers and patronize our own nutritious rice.

He also commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (rtd) and his management team for their support to the Command which helped them to achieve the unprecedented seizures as well as the officers and men of the Command for being forthright and dedicated to their duty.

He said he would make a case to the Customs management on behalf of officers and men of the Command that are outstanding in performance of their duty to service means of encouragement.