Harboursandport.com: Lagos--- The anti smuggling unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal
Operations Unit, Ikeja has intercepted contraband items with Duty Paid Value,
DPV, of over N2.5 billion between 1st to 19th, 2018.
 |
| Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) |
Amongst items intercepted by the Unit are 16 exotic vehicles mostly 2017
model, 7201 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 12 trailers, 1,172 cartons of
frozen poultry products, 1,352 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 72 bales of used
clothing, 464 pieces of used tyres, 407 sacks of Pangolin scales and 629 pieces
of textile Ankara material among others.
According to the Customs Area Controller of the Unit, Garba Uba Mohammed,
said among the
vehicles include two Lexus jeep (RS350 2016, 2017 model), one rolls Royce, one
Lincoln limousine (2014), three Toyota Camry (2009, 2013 and 2017 models) one
Toyota Rav 4, one Toyota Avalon (2016) one Dogde among others. The 16 exotic
vehicles alone have a DPV of over N340 million (three hundred and forty
million, seven hundred and seventy thousand, five hundred and nine naira,
fifty-five kobo.
While
six vehicles were evacuated based on intelligence along Lekki Epe expressway,
the remaining 10 were intercepted while on information patrol at various
locations. The vehicles are still under detention pending the grace period
allowed for the owners to bring relevant customs documents.
In
the words of Mohammed, “the ban on the importation of foreign rice through the
land was to encourage efficiency in local production. Therefore, the need to
support the Federal Government policy on rice is to encourage local rice
farmers, the millers and patronize our own nutritional rice cannot be over
emphasized.”
Among
the seizures was the interception of eight trucks laden with 3,351 bags rice
and 669 jerry cans of vegetable oil along Iseyin, Oyo/Osun Axis and also the
evacuation of 1,253 bags of rice 50kg each from a warehouse in Ogbomosho based
on credible intelligence despite resistance.
Also,
407 sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 10,263kg was evacuated from an apartment
at 64 Opebi road off Toyin street, Ikeja Lagos within the period under review
with a DPV of N2,1 billion (two billion ninety four million, two hundred and
forty three thousand, four hundred and fifty six naira, sixty kobo.
In
the spirit of inter agency cooperation the pangolin scales and the suspects
will be handed over to Nigeria environment standards and regulatory enforcement
agency (NESREA) for further investigation in collaboration towards protecting
our natural habitat and protecting our endangered species. Five suspects were arrested
in connection with these 89 seizures.
He
said that the remarkable achievements was as a result of efforts deployed
by his men. He therefore, assured the public of effective service delivery.
The Customs boss also said Nigerians should support Customs in the fight
against contraband items in and outside the country. He said anyone found
guilty of violating federal government's law shall face the consequences
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