Importers Count Losses, as Customs FOU Zone A Records 580 Seizures Worth N4.02bn in 6 Months
FOU CAC, EJIBUNU
By Our Reporter
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has announced 580 seizures of different goods between January and June this year.
The duty-paid value of the seizures according to the Acting Controller, Deputy Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu was N4.02billion.
Among the items were 44 units of Tokunbo vehicles, 218,575 litres of premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 7,728 parcels of Indian Hemp, 1,064 bales of used clothing, 450 x 106 kg drums of carbide and 2 x 20 containers of unprocessed wood.
Others include 860 cartons of foreign poultry products, 833 pieces of used tyres, 1,448 pieces of foreign rugs, 30 units of used motorcycles,
He disclosed that 60 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures.
Ejibunu also said that the Unit was able to recover the sum of N400m from importers.
He said “our strategic intervention also achieved recovery of revenue through the issuance of demand notices to complete underpaid duties into the federal government coffers that were being evaded by some importers and their agents.
“We also succeeded in preventing the entry of dangerous or harmful substances like illicit drugs into the society”.
The Controller was full of gratitude to sister agencies for their support.
He added, “We wish to express our profound gratitude to sister security agencies for their unflinching synergy in the course of our operations; special mention to the Department of State Security Services- Oyo State Command for the arrest of a notorious suspect that was on the wanted list for attack on a Customs patrol team escorting exhibits.
“Interestingly, this suspect was arrested and handed over the Unit.
“Through the federal high courts, 11 suspects were convicted for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, being in possession of foreign parboiled rice and for being in possession of Pangolin scales meant for export.
“Some other smuggling and related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently.”
He warned that for the second half of 2023, the Unit’s onslaught against smugglers “will be fiercer with a renewed determination to uncover them using intelligence-backed enforcement”.
He continued, “We shall get recalcitrant traders and their agents arrested and prosecuted in addition to seizing their wares.
“At this point, members of the trading community are advised to further embrace compliance and shun any act that would place them on the wrong side of the law.
“We advise them to keep themselves abreast of the import and export prohibition lists because claims of ignorance will not suffice as an excuse whenever they are caught.”
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has announced 580 seizures of different goods between January and June this year.
The duty-paid value of the seizures according to the Acting Controller, Deputy Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu was N4.02billion.
Among the items were 44 units of Tokunbo vehicles, 218,575 litres of premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 7,728 parcels of Indian Hemp, 1,064 bales of used clothing, 450 x 106 kg drums of carbide and 2 x 20 containers of unprocessed wood.
Others include 860 cartons of foreign poultry products, 833 pieces of used tyres, 1,448 pieces of foreign rugs, 30 units of used motorcycles,
He disclosed that 60 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures.
Ejibunu also said that the Unit was able to recover the sum of N400m from importers.
He said “our strategic intervention also achieved recovery of revenue through the issuance of demand notices to complete underpaid duties into the federal government coffers that were being evaded by some importers and their agents.
“We also succeeded in preventing the entry of dangerous or harmful substances like illicit drugs into the society”.
The Controller was full of gratitude to sister agencies for their support.
He added, “We wish to express our profound gratitude to sister security agencies for their unflinching synergy in the course of our operations; special mention to the Department of State Security Services- Oyo State Command for the arrest of a notorious suspect that was on the wanted list for attack on a Customs patrol team escorting exhibits.
“Interestingly, this suspect was arrested and handed over the Unit.
“Through the federal high courts, 11 suspects were convicted for committing offences of improper importation, assault of Customs officers, being in possession of foreign parboiled rice and for being in possession of Pangolin scales meant for export.
“Some other smuggling and related cases instituted in the courts are at various stages of prosecution and would be followed up diligently.”
He warned that for the second half of 2023, the Unit’s onslaught against smugglers “will be fiercer with a renewed determination to uncover them using intelligence-backed enforcement”.
He continued, “We shall get recalcitrant traders and their agents arrested and prosecuted in addition to seizing their wares.
“At this point, members of the trading community are advised to further embrace compliance and shun any act that would place them on the wrong side of the law.
“We advise them to keep themselves abreast of the import and export prohibition lists because claims of ignorance will not suffice as an excuse whenever they are caught.”
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