The seizure of 37 brand new exotic cars worth N1.3 billion by the Comptroller-General of Customs’ Compliance Team has been attributed to its new anti-smuggling strategies.
Independent sources told The Nation that the feat recorded by the team was a result of the determination of the Comptroller-General, Col Hamid Ali (rtd) to run smugglers out of business in the country.
‘’The seizure of the vehicles based on intelligence was carried out by the new surveillance team of the CG –Compliance Squad led by one Chief Superintendent Hassan Bello. The team had trailed the smugglers right from the Ihunbe-Idiroko axis where they were moving in group of 15 vehicles into the mainland of Lagos for three days before it rounded them up early this month, ‘’ a source said.
The 26 vehicles are made up of 2017 model Prado SUV, Land Cruiser. Lexus as well as several Hilux Vans of 2016 model.
They were however picked up at different locations in Victoria Island and Ikeja respectively where they were brought in for sale.
It was learnt that 11 additional Hilux vehicles from the Federal Operations Unit were arrested from smugglers in Ikeja.
The absence of any legal import document or proof of payment of duty, is a major pointer that they were outrightly smuggled. Suspects behind the smuggling are still at large as efforts are ongoing to smoke them out of their hide outs.
Customs sources compliance team has been strengthened with additional crack officers whose functions are majorly surveillance and intelligence on vehicles/rice imports. They are located in the North with Assistant Comptroller Gambo in charge, while Bello heads the Western axis. This is sequel to the Senate displeasure recently that smuggling was still thriving across the land borders.
The Comptroller General however believes that smuggling was thriving in the country because some unscrupulous Nigerians were conniving with foreigners in the illegitimate trade, noting that some officers have been dismissed because of reports indicting them over smuggling.
“What we need in this country is physical discipline, we do not have it and people do not have conscience. How can we grow and be great, look at all the indices by the World Bank, The IMF, we always rank the lowest because of our own attitude as Nigerians”, Col. Ali said.
He stated that these importations are not done by Indians alone, “if it is done, it is done in collaboration with Nigerians”.
He reiterated that the federal government’s policies banning the importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders are still in force, adding that the Nigeria Customs remained resolute in its determination to enforce these policies and would continue to work towards crippling smugglers and getting them out of the illegitimate business.