CAC MS Yusuf stressing appoint at the press briefing.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The officers and men of the Controller General of Customs Strike Force, Zone ‘A’ led by Deputy Controller, MS Yusuf have made various seizures of items found to be on the import prohibition list. This much was disclosed by the Strike Force Coordinator himself in a press briefing organised to show Journalists the amount of seizures that were recently made.
Addressing the Journalists present at the occassion, Comptroller Yusuf said “Specifically speaking, importing what we can produce threatens our economy; unlawful felling of trees degrades the environment and promotes deforestation while illegal killing of wildlife creatures and endangered species like pangolin and donkeys for their scales and skins respectively could lead to these animals going into extinction”. He noted that protecting these endangered species and the prevention of illicit trade form part of their duty.
CoordinatorYusuf added that “With these and other tasks under our purview, we shall be resolute and unrelenting to arrest perpetrators, seize prohibited items from them or their accomplices, and promote lawful trade using the legal instrument of the extant Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP 45LFN”.
The CAC with some of the seized items behind him.
The Coordinator also said that “We made seizures worth a total duty paid value (DPV) of Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand, Seventy Five Naira (₦7,432,596,075), with Four (4) arrested suspects in connection with some of the seizures during the period under review.
Notable among the seized items are: seized over 8,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, equivalent of 13 trucks,1x40ft container of Tramadol, Sildenafil citrate, 1613 bottles of 100ml Codeine, 1079 bales of secondhand clothing
3,695 pieces of used tyres, 966 slabs of Donkey skin, 77,760 pairs of new Ladies shoes, 5,250 pairs of used shoes, 197 logs of wood. Through our meticulous checks on import documents, we were able to recover the sum of Three Billion, One Hundred and Forty Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Nine Naira (₦3,140,758,599) through issuance of demand notices; this was done sequel to our discoveries of short payment of duties within the period of six (6) months. This amount would have been lost, but for our vigilance and uncompromising disposition in the discharge of our duties”.
In addition, the area head noted that “Within the same period in 2021, a total collection of One Billion, Eight Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety One Naira (₦1,808,316,391) was made, which shows an increase of One Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Two Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Eight Naira (₦1,332,242,208) representing 73% of revenue increase”
Deputy Comptroller Yusuf used the opportunity to advise all importers, businessmen and every stakeholder to avail themselves of the provisions in the extant laws for good business conduct and the avoidance of illegality. He also thanked the men of the Nigeria Customs Service under his Command, journalists who help to inform the people about their activities as well as members of the public for the help always granted in making his job easy.
The DC took Journalists round to see the seized items.
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