The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Contraband

  • NCS seizes N197million contraband

    NCS seizes N197million contraband

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “C” Owerri, seized 48 contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N197.38 million in July.

    The Customs Area Comptroller (CAC) of the unit, Mr David Dimka, announced this while addressing reporters on the performance of the unit yesterday in Owerri.

    He said 30 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling on the Benin/Asaba Express Way, Owerri/Port-Harcourt Road and Enugu axis.

    He said 20 cases were now pending in the court in respect of the seizures.

    Dimka said apart from the 48 seizures, an under-payment of N24.25 million was also recovered.

    According to him, a breakdown shows that 69 bales of second hand clothes; 39 vehicles; 139 pieces of used tyres; 244 pairs of used foot wears and 60 bags of 50kg rice were seized.

    He expressed displeasure at the increased number of exotic vehicles seized by the unit on daily basis.

    The area comptroller advised members of the public who wished to purchase vehicles to go through the official channels.

    He advised them to always verify from the customs before investing their money.

    Dimka warned that all illegally imported goods would be impounded as ignorance of the law was no excuse.

    He also warned that the NCS would not succumb to “senseless and irrational pleadings for leniency and pardon by individuals caught in the act of smuggling”.

    He said it would amount to compromising the statutory responsibilities of the establishment.

    Dimka decried the upsurge of smuggling of goods in the country in spite of obvious stiff penalties for culprits.

    He assured that the service would never be deterred in its mission to bring the scourge to its barest minimum.

    He lamented the harm being inflicted on the nation’s economy by smugglers, their sponsors and collaborators.

    He warned such unpatriotic individuals to desist from their nefarious activities as the NCS was now better equipped, trained and motivated to tackle smuggling.

    Dimka warned those still indulged in smuggling to be mindful that the shady deal had brought sorrows and grief to those arrested and their families.

    He urged them to turn a new leaf before it was too late.

  • Customs intercepts 1,074 contraband

    The Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted a DAF truck laden with 1, 074 cartons of assorted smuggled frozen poultry products, valued at N4, 833, 000million with a duty of N966, 600 and a duty paid value of N5, 799, 600 million.

    The Unit Comptroller, Nuhu Isa Mahmoud made this disclosure in a statement made available to The Nation by the Public Relations Office of the Unit, shortly after the examination of the truck at the workshop area of the Unit.

    According to him, “a Patrol Team led by Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Kirawa, comprising other officers and men of the Unit intercepted the truck with the driver named Mike Abram and one Mr. Richard Ikhabuzor who was escorting the truck during the arrest.”

    He further hinted “that the DAF truck with registration number DELTA XB 434 DSZ was intercepted based on an intelligence report. It was trailed to Alaba International Creeks – via Mile 2, before the interception.”

    He pointed out that the remarkable thing about the seizure was the fact that the smuggled poultry products were concealed with 190 cartons of Viju and bobo milk; the act which he said clearly showed their intent to mislead security operatives.