Story by Dili Utomi.
The hard work, prudence and sagacity of the officers and men of the Zone ‘A’, Federal Operations Unit, Nigeria Customs Service have continued to pay dividends as a number items of illegitimate transactions have been seized in the month of October.
The acting Controller of the unit, Ejibunu H. K revealed that “Having understood the unrepentant nature of some economic saboteurs’ increased desperation to smuggle and their quest to acquire wealth ahead of the festive period, the unit remained resolute in enforcing compliance with the federal government’s fiscal policies, Customs and Excise laws”.
While aslo noting that smuggling compromises national security, robs the nation of revenues, it can aslo destroy health of citizens through the importation of expired, fake and illicit drugs. The acting Controller detailed the seizures for the month as 7,403 of 50k klogrammes bags of foreign parboiled rice, 53,759 litres of premium motor spirit, 121 cartons poultry product, 724 bale’s of used clothing, 3 units of used motorcycles, 97 pieces of used tyres, 162 (96kg) of Cannabis Sativa, 11 Jerry cans of 25 litres of vegetable oil, 13 units of fridges, 3,116 pieces of cutlasses, 700 rolls of cigarettes, 23 cartons of dates, 9 units of fairly used vehicles and 2×40 foot containers of charcoal.
The DC Ejibunu noted that all the seized items are worth a duty paid value (dpv) of Sixty One Million, Six Hundred and Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Four Naira, Fifty Kobo. (#671,609,384.50k) only.
The acting Controller also said that 11 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures and are also at various stages of investigation.
Also, the interventionist unit over the period intercepted 15×40 foot containers out of which 3×40 foot were examined and demand notice raised due to transfer of value and wrong classification while agents and importers at press were time yet to appear with docents for the remaining 12×40 foot intercepted containers.
The cumulative revenue recovery for the period stood at Forty Two Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand a d Ninety Eight Naira (#42,320,098.00) only.
Acting Controller Ejibunu appeals to the trading community to be patriotic and do the needful as any culpable person in any case of illigality will be arrested for prosecution.
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