Customs Impound Pump Action Rifle, Pistol, 14 Cartridges In Lagos

… Recovers N748.6m As Under Payment  

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The Strike Force Team A set up by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) on Wednesday said it impounded one pump action, one locally fabricated pistol, and 14 live cartridges in Lagos.

Leader of the Team Yusuf Mohammed at a press briefing in Lagos said the Team also seized imported contraband goods with Duty Paid Value, DPV worth N390,198,000 as well as recovered a total sum of N748,679,337 as underpayment through the issuance of Demand Notice (D/N) on goods cleared from the seaports and border posts.

Yusuf listed the goods seized to include 839 bales of used clothes, 3,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 900 bags of Cement; used to conceal rice, 1500 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 1,670 Mumrite Tomato Paste, 500 Mumrite Sardine, and Smuggled Vehicles.

Speaking further, he said, “One pump action, one locally fabricated pistol, and 14 live cartridges. These seizures recorded within the period have a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of N390,198,000.

“In the aspect of revenue, the sum of N748,679,337 was made through documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have been short-paid.

“Illicit goods imported into the country with their attending effects mostly end up either in our homes or in the neighbourhood; causing a wide range of issues ranging from social to psychological crises. 

“Our efforts at ensuring that the local industries are protected from unhealthy foreign competition and other forms of social security require a strong partnership between our operatives and members of the public in areas of information sharing and moral support.

“It is sad to note that some Nigerians would pay all duties and levies payable to the Customs authorities of other countries they import from, while on the other hand, they make conscious efforts to evade such payments into the federal coffers.

“As we are in the last quarter of the year; approaching the yuletide period, where recalcitrant traders and importers' quest to make more profits through smuggling is at its peak. I would use this opportunity to appeal to importers and agents to be patriotic by making sincere declarations and paying their duties accurately.

“Let me use this medium to warn none compliant traders to desist from such; because we have strategically mobilized, and deployed our personnel to do the needful. I wish to reiterate at this point that, unpatriotic importers/agents culpable shall be dealt with in accordance with the dictates of the law,” he concluded.