The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Contraband

  • Customs seizes N137m rice, second-hand clothing

     

    The Headquarters Strike Force Team of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized contraband foreign parboiled rice and second-hand clothing worth N137 million in the past one month in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

    National Coordinator of the Team, Deputy Comptroller, Abdullahi Kirawa, who disclosed this to reporters while inspecting the items at the Government Warehouse in Calabar  on Wednesday, said a total of 5, 662 50kg bags of rice were seized, of which 2, 153 was handed over to them by the Nigerian Navy.

    Kirawa said this showed the level of cooperation and synergy that exists between the Customs and other sister security agencies.

    “It is of note that these seizures would not have been possible without the motivation of the team by the headquarters, particularly the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali rtd, who has given us all that we need to ensure that not only is smuggling reduced to the barest minimum, but that we ensure that the menace of these people is not perpetuated in this area.

    “I use this medium to call on members of the public to help us with valuable and credible information so that we make more of these arrests.

    “These seizures were just in the period of one month. You know this is the yuletide period and a lot of smuggling activities would be on the increase but then because of the doggedness and the determination of the officers to excel and ensure that we perform our duties to the best of our abilities, we would ensure they are arrested and the perpetuators are brought to book,” Kirawa said.

    Kirawa, was conducted round by the leader of the Strike Force Team in Zone C, which consists of Calabar, South-South and South-East, Assistant Comptroller Kolade Kayode.

     

  • Customs seizes N2b contraband from suspected smugglers

    •Nine bulletproof vehicles, military uniform, others seized

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine bulletproof vehicles allegedly smuggled into the country by some “screenshots” importers through the land borders and the sea port.

    The items, it was gathered, were intercepted by officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, between September 4 and October 3.

    Addressing reporters in his office yesterday, the zone’s Area Controller Mohammed Aliyu said the unit, in less than one month, intercepted military uniforms and various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of over N2 billion.

    Twenty-eight suspects, Muhammed said, were arrested in connection with the 89 seizures made by the unit within the period under review.

    According to him, the seized items include: 22 exotic vehicles, 11,303 bags of foreign parboiled rice brands, 2,410 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products, 853 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 245 parcels of Indian hemp, 4×40 feet containers of unprocessed wood, 2,017 bales of used clothing and 283 cartons of fake pharmaceutical products.

    The 22 vehicles include nine bulletproof vehicles, four Lexus Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) IBXS70 (2016), three Land Cruiser jeeps (2016) and two Mercedes Benz G63 and 8,550 (2014/2015) model.

    The other vehicles include one Toyota Rav4 (2015) model, three Toyota Hilux (2018), two Toyota H1ghlander (2018), one Toyota Prado (2018), one Toyota Land cruiser (2016), one Toyota Corolla, one Toyota Fortuner (2017), one Toyota Sequoia and one Lexus RX 350, among others.

    The 22 exotic vehicles, investigations revealed, have a duty paid value of N1.1 billion.

    Some of the vehicles were reportedly intercepted at Ogere and Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun State, while the bulletproof vehicles were trailed and seized from some private homes on Victoria Island, Lagos, a tip-off.

    Although the area comptroller did not give the number of military uniforms seized, it was learnt that there were 30 of them.

    Considering the security challenge in the country, the Customs chief said the military uniforms could be used by unpatriotic politicians and other criminals to wreak havoc.

    He noted that as unpatriotic elements have begun to dress like solders, Nigerians should support the Service in reducing criminalities across the country.

  • Customs seizes over N1.3b contraband 

    Contraband worth over N1.3 billion were impounded between the middle of last month and early this month by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), its Area Controller, Mohammed Uba has told The Nation.

    Addressing reporters at the unit’s Ikeja, Lagos command, he said the seized items included 15 assorted vehicles worth over N383 million.

    Twelve suspects, he said, were arrested in connection to the 112 seizures made by his officers in less than one month.

    The exotic vehicles, according to the controller, include three Toyota C-HR (2018 model), one Toyota Camry LE (2018 model), one Toyota Prado (2018 model), one Toyota Hilux (2017 model), one Ford FI50 (2017 model), one Pajero Jeep (2017 model), and one Mercedes Benz (2017 model), among others.

    Uba  said his men seized over 9000 bags of smuggled parboiled rice, with a duty paid value (DPV) of over N129 million.

    Other seized items include 1,464 cartons of frozen poultry products, 870 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 273 bales of used clothing and 592 pieces of used tyres.

    The command also seized four containers with Reg. No: PCIU850134/9, PCIU8278544, FCIU983753 and TGHU6924330 for false declaration.

    Two of the containers, finding revealed, were laden with 8,633 pieces of empty gas cylinders as against plumbing materials declared in their SGD form. The other two containers also carried 120 bales of new jeans as against punching machine declared in the SGD form.

    A total of 12 suspects, it was learnt, were arrested in connection to the 112 seizures worth N1,345,572,313.

    “Similarly, the unit through its interventions recovered N59,506,773.25 from underpayments, making a cumulative of over N1,405 billion.

    “To ensure full implementation of the government policy banning the importation of rice through land borders and following headquarters directive on same, we re-strategised our operational modali-ties and beam our searchlight at the Creek, Water side, and at various locations in south west zone and hence the reason for the massive rice seizure within the period under review.

    “We will continue to make sure smugglers within our areas of jurisdiction count their losses until they repent from sabotaging our economy.

    “As you already know, smuggling is a global phenomenon that cannot be eradicated entirely, but if all hands are on deck it will be reduced to its barest minimum,” he said.

    Findings revealed that some senior officers of the command had to put their lives on the line to seize the items, most especially the 15 trailers.

    A senior official of the unit, who craved anonymity, said: “It was a big battle at the creek and bush parts to seize the rice from smugglers. The resilience and doggedness of the officers are highly commendable.”

  • Customs intercepts rice, contraband worth N1.6b

    THE Federal Operations Unit, Zone `A` of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 10 trailer loads of parboiled rice and other contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.62 billion.

    Its Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the unit generated N166. 20 million from March 19 to April 9 from duty payment and demand notices on general goods from seaports, airports and land border stations.

    “The command also intercepted contraband with DPV of N1.46 billion between March 19 and April 9.

    “The seized items include Indian hemp (cannabis sativa), 64 exotic vehicles, 6,003 bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent of 10 trailers loads) and 963 cartons of frozen poultry products.

    “Others are: 431 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 163 bales of used clothing, 569 pieces of used tyres, 69 bags of sugar and four containers, among others,” the Customs chief said.

    Uba said the 570 parcels and 98 sacks of cannabis sativa, weighing 1,550kg, were intercepted on the Olorunda axis of Ogun, following a tipoff.

    “These Indian hemp was the highest seizure of such hard drugs in the history of the command.

    “Such a drug will have negative effects on consumers, if it escapes to the public.

    “In the spirit of inter-agency relationship, the seized Indian hemp will be handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation,” Uba said.

    According to him, the command evacuated 2,671 bags of 50kg parboiled rice from nine storage houses in Ilogbo, Abeokuta.

    He added that the evacuation was done by the Lagos Roving Team complemented by other teams of the service.

    The controller said there were mob attacks on customs operatives but the officers were not deterred from performing their statutory responsibilities.

    According to Uba, the seized 64 vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruiser, 2018, 1 Escalades 2017 Cadillac, 2014 Range Rover and 2014 Toyota Highlander, had DPV of N258 million.

    Uba said the command intercepted three 40ft containers and one 20ft container classified CSNU 106087/4 containing 2,260 cartons of Gonca Spaghetti and 530 packages of Rifle Energy drinks.

    He said the goods were intercepted as a result of false declaration, adding that they were declared as baking powder.

    “A 40ft container No. PCUI 865957/1 was seized for carrying 200 cartons of ladies shoes, 134 cartoons of children shoes, among others.

    “Another 40ft container No. FCIU 80992/0 was seized for carrying 2,300 cartons of tiffany chocolate, 385 cartons of tiffany crunch cream biscuit as against tappet for pump.

    “A total of 10 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures,” Garba said.

    He commended the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) and his management team for providing adequate logistics for the command to succeed.

    Uba also hailed the Army and the Police for their support.

    He pledged that the command would not relent in its efforts to bring down smugglers and improve government revenue.

    Receiving the intercepted cannabis sativa from customs, Mr. Lawal Opeloyeru, the NDLEA Principal Officer (Operations and Intelligence), hailed NCS for the feat.

    He promised that NDLEA would carry out further investigation on it.

    Opeloyeru acknowledged the contributions of NCS in the fight against illicit drug peddling.

    He said the NDLEA could not win the fight without the support of other agencies and members of the public.

  • 10 held as Customs seizes N1.6b contraband

    10 held as Customs seizes N1.6b contraband

    CONTRABAND worth N1.6billion were impounded last month by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Area Controller Mohammed Uba said yesterday.

    He told reporters at the unit’s Ikeja, Lagos command that among the seized items were 31 assorted vehicles.

    Ten suspects were arrested.

    The vehicles, according to the controller, include four Rolls Royce, one Porche Panamera, one Jaguar, one Bentley, two Lexus Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), two G wagons, one Toyota Land Cruiser, five Toyota Corolla and seven Mercedes Benz.

    Uba said his men seized about 14 trailer bags of smuggled parboiled rice, with a duty paid value (DPV) of over N103 million.

    Other seized items  include 835,000 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 2,208 pieces of used tyres, 1,652 cartons of frozen poultry products, 10 bags of Indian Hemp, 500 used compressors,  and 159 bales of used clothing,  among others.

    It was gathered that some of the vehicles were intercepted on Ijebu-Ode Expressway, while others were brought into the country through unapproved routes.

    Some were recovered when customs men raided some shops in Park View Estate, Victoria Island, Banana Island, Alhaji Bankole Crescent, Ikeja and Tola Adewunmi Street, Maryland.

    It was gathered that some of the dealers in Banana Island and Maryland used the number plates on some of the new vehicles as a decoy to beat customs’ checks. But unknown to them, customs officials had been monitoring their movement for days before swooping on them.

    “We urge the owners of these vehicles to come forward with valid customs clearance documents otherwise they will be liable to seizure and subsequent forfeiture to the Federal Government in line with laws of the land. For the avoidance of doubt, our action is in-line with the provisions of Sections 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (power to search premises), Section 158 of CEMA, Cap 45 Laws of Federation of Nigeria (power to patrol freely),” he said

    He added that two containers no. GATU132358/4 and TCLU172184/3 were seized for carrying 537 cartons of Indian Whisky as against yeast declared in the single goods declaration (SGD), and the second for carrying 60 pieces of used chest freezers and 570 bundles of gas hose as against condenser for steam polysomic.C

  • Ogun customs intercepts 276 kegs of petrol, N67.2m contraband

    Ogun customs intercepts 276 kegs of petrol, N67.2m contraband

    Operatives of Ogun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted about 278 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol from smugglers.

    Two drums of diesel, 221 kegs of vegetable oil, 13 second hand vehicles, and 383 bags of rice were also seized from smugglers.

    The seizure, according to Ogun Customs Area Controller, Mr Sani Madugu, was recorded following impeccable intelligence at the disposal of the command.

    Speaking with reporters at the Idiroko Area Customs Command on Friday, Madugu said his men would continue to pursue smugglers wherever they are hiding.

    The seized fuel were later auctioned to security forces including the police, army, Directorate of State Security(DSS) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).

    Madugu said: ”It is pertinent to inform you that , we have reinvigorated our efforts not only to sustain the tempo we have achieved in the previous year(810 seizures with Duty Paid Value of N1,581,410,058 and total revenue of N6,162,559,790.13 from January to December,2017), but rather strategies have been put in place to improve our performance. This assertion can be justified with seizures of 13 tokunbo(second hand), two means of conveyance, 17 motorcycles,383 bags of foreign rice(50 kg each), six sacks of second hand clothing, shoes, bags, 221 kegs of vegetable oil with DPV of N67,247,153, among others within the last two weeks in Idiroko axis of Ogun Area Command.

    ” In an effort to curb the menace of smuggling of petroleum products outside Nigeria by some unscrupulous, unpatriotic and desperate members of the public who are determined to enrich themselves illegitimately to the detriment of other Nigerians, we have succeeded in intercepting 276 kegs of petrol(PMS), nine drums and 32 kegs of diesel and five drums of kerosene. We will continue to explore intelligence and surveillance in monitoring filling stations along the border areas so as to avert any form of diversion. We will like to use this medium to appeal to all members of the public to be patriotic by availing the (Customs) service with plausible information , so as to assist in mitigating the menace of smuggling of petroleum products and other prohibited goods.

    Madugu disclosed that 291 vehicles have been released to successful bidders who participated in the electronic auctioning system put in place by NCS.

    He said further that 11, 990 bags of rice, 1,129 jerry cans of 25 liters vegetable oil and 29 jerry cans of 25 liters of palm oil were evacuated from Customs’ warehouses by the Nigeria Army Transport and Logistsics for delivery to internally displaced persons in Yobe State.

    Commendation letters were later presented to two officers of the command, Chief Superintendent  Jamairi Ali Mamza and Superintendent  Ya’u Habeeb for their outstanding exploits in curbing smuggling activities within Idiroko and Abeokuta axis of Ogun State.

  • Customs seizes N1.4b contraband in Kaduna

    The Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kaduna, has intercepted smuggled items worth over N1.4 billion.

    Its Controller, Aminu Dahiru,  said 1,357 items were seized between January and last month.

    Some of the items are second hand vehicles and clothes, trucks load of rice, vegetable oil, tin tomatoes, illicit drugs, mosquito coil, tyres, furniture and drones.

    The controller stressed that the command would continue to mount surveillance and adopt measures to make smuggling impossible in the area.

    “We have declared war against smuggling and have deployed competent officers to man all identified illegal routes used by smugglers to bring in unwholesome goods into the country.

    “We have taken concrete measures to stop illegal importation of banned goods to contribute our quota in the promotion of Made-in-Nigerian goods,” he said.

    Dahiru said the zone had streamlined its mode of operations and equipped its men to operate optimally. He also sought the cooperation of stakeholders and traditional rulers in mobilising border communities to support the service in protecting the economy.

     

  • Customs seizes N178m medicament, N250m contraband in Imo

    Customs seizes N178m medicament, N250m contraband in Imo

    The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) in Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted consignments of medicament including the banned Tramadol, with a duty paid value (DPV) of N178,209,310.

    Other unregistered drugs were also impounded.

    Contraband impounded across the zone in March included foreign rice, used shoes, machine spare parts with a DPV of N112,617,700.

    The Customs Area Controller in charge of FOU in Zone C (Owerri), Comptroller Mohammed Garba, displayed the consignments during a media briefing.

    He said the unit recovered N48,742,845, being the underpayments within the time under review.

    Garba said NCS remained resolute in protecting the wellbeing of Nigeria through its statutory duties.

    The Customs chief said the unit made 17 seizures comprising various contraband with DPV of N112,617,700 in March.

    He said the unit, during its anti-smuggling operations in March, also intercepted and detained a huge consignment of medicament estimated at N178,209,310 in duty paid value.

    This brought the duty paid value for seizures and goods in its custody in March to N250,951,010.

    Giving a further breakdown, the Comptroller said the unit recorded 2,455 bags of rice with DPV of N77,558,800; 1,266 foot wear with DPV of N6,076,800; 307 used tyres with DPV of N3,789,600; 100 bags of used shoes with DPV of N8,100,000; 40 bales of used clothing with DPV of N5,280,000 and three vehicles with DPV of N4,050,000.

    On the medicament intercepted in the Agbor axis of the zone, Garba said they included 268 cartons of Tramadol, 202 cartons of Pullegra, 36 cartons of Reall Octra and 928 packets of Tramadol.

    The Customs chief said a sample of the various medicament had been sent to the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for tests and verification while the consignment was being detained for further investigations.

    He said: “The nefarious activities of smugglers endanger the health and safety of Nigerians, affect the economy and even pose a threat to national security.”

  • Customs impounds N194.6m worth of contraband

    Customs impounds N194.6m worth of contraband

    The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it impounded 17 containers of prohibited items and 21 underpayments with N194,656,855.00 in the last one month.

    Spokesman Onuigbo Ifeoma Ojekwu said the figure was a combination of an overall Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N122,282,220.00 and a recovered underpayment of N72,374,635.00.

    Area Controller Mohammed Uba Garba, who displayed the seized items on the premises of the Customs Warehouse, said 18 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures which were made on the Owerri, Benin, Enugu and Calabar axis.

    Garba said nine vehicles worth N35,900,920.00; 382 pieces of used foreign tyres, valued at N6,288,000.00 and 3,077 bags of 50kg foreign rice estimated at N80,093,300.00, were confiscated.

    He warned that rice smuggling could depress the country’s economy by reducing government’s revenue, stifle domestic rice industries and distort supply and consumption data usually applied by the government in policy planning.

    Garba urged smugglers to purge themselves of these obnoxious businesses which, according to him, is detrimental to the country’s economy, human lives and the society.

    The controller restated NCS resolve to ensure that no prohibited item gets across the country’s borders.

  • Customs seizes N663m contraband in Imo

    Customs seizes N663m contraband in Imo

    The Zone C of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has said it made 70 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N663,089,296 in the quarter of this year (January to March).

    NCS Unit Comptroller, Mr. Haruna Mamudu, addressed reporters yesterday in Owerri, where he displayed the impounded items and the trucks used for conveying the suspected contraband.

    He said the underpayment from the seizure was N214,959,353.

    Mamudu said 34 suspects were arrested for the alleged crime within the period under review, adding that 18 cases from the seizures were pending in the court.

    The Unit Comptroller listed the contraband as: 44 vehicles, 380 cartons of article of plastics, 1,656 pieces of used tyres; 3,614 cartons of imported frozen poultry products as well as 818 cartons of foreign soap and detergent.

    Others include 181 bales of fabrics, 737 pieces of bags and suitcases, 85 bundles of footwear as well as 120 packages of furniture and 906 cartons of unregistered drugs.

    He said the contraband were seized on the Benin axis, Agbor, Onitsha-Asaba, Owerri, Calabar and Aba-Eleme axis.

    The Unit Comptroller said over 19 trucks comprising 50 kilogrammes of rice, which were also impounded by his men, had been detained for further investigation.

    He warned that there were no more hiding places for smugglers because the NCS would flush them out.

    Mamudu said: “Our men are now better trained, well equipped and motivated to deal with the nefarious activities of smugglers who have continued to inflict a devastating blow on the nation’s economy.”