Anti-Smuggling: Customs Operatives Seize 113 Vehicles, 13,810 Bags of Rice, Others
The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Wednesday announced seizures of 113 exotic cars which duty paid value was put at N1.3billion.
The cars according to the Unit were seized following attempts to smuggle them into the country without payment duties.
Among other items seized between February and April 15 were 1,000 sachets of tramadol, 600 cartons of codeine syrup, 13,810 bags of rice and others which duty paid value was put at N610m.
The Comptroller, Mr Aliyu Mohammed, identified the exotic cars seized as 2018 model bulletproof Range Rover, 2019 model bulletproof Lexus, 2018 Toyota Hilux, 2019 model Range Rover, 2018 model Toyota Highlander and 2015 model Lexus Jeep, among others.
He said all the seized items were based on information received from credible sources working for the Customs.
He also said that 60 cars whose apparently seized from car shops have been forfeited to the federal government, adding 50 more of such cars are currently being detained.
He told newsmen, , “anybody that wants to import any vehicle should do so through the port and pay appropriate duties; then you will drive your car safely and nobody will disturb you, but if you decide to go through the bush, we are there.
“Moreover, bulletproof vehicles are not for everybody to use and if you must import it, you must have the End User Certificate.”
“We have 600 cartons of codeine with a DPV of N240 million and each of the cartons contains 200 pieces.
“We also have 1000 tramadol with 250mg per tablet; 1,056 cartons of chest and lung tablets concealed with paracetamol injection with no NAFDAC number.
“I cannot say if this is worse than tramadol until when NAFDAC confirms the type of drug it is. You can imagine the effect this type of drug will cause on those that will consume them.
“I am ready to do more in the fight against fake drugs. The award given to me by NAFDAC will motivate me to do more.”
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“Sometimes when you see Customs officers stopping vehicles on the road, you wonder what business they have with company vehicles but this is a truck used for cement with rice concealed inside.
“We have our informants and will continue to use our intelligence to make more seizures”..
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