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Tag: customs

  • Customs mulls drones to battle smuggling

    THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it was thinking of procuring drones and unmanned area vehicles to tackle border criminals and strengthen other means of anti-smuggling battle.

    Its Deputy Comptroller-General, Enforcement and Investigation Aminu Dangaladima broke the news to reporters at a news conference on the presentation of additional 30 patrol vehicles in Abuja.

    Asked whether the agency was also thinking of fighting smuggling with technology, he noted that the patrol vehicles were part of the technology that the organisation was deploying to fight criminal activities.

    Dangaladima said: “We are thinking of having drones. We are trying to bring in Air Force. And we are also trying to have something like unmanned area vehicles that can also assist us. That will go a long way. So, it is in progress, God willing.”

    He said the service was not fighting the anti-smuggling battle alone and added that it was working in collaboration with the Navy in terms of seaport security.

    According to him, the Federal Government had given the NCS much and much was expected from it in terms of revenue generation.

    Dangaladima noted that the organisation will blocked leakages.

    He said that the additional 30 Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles were all equipped with the necessary apparatus for the purpose of patrol duties.

    He noted that the first batch of 20 vehicles were presented to the public on June 11, stressing that it was part of government’s effort at curtailing smuggling of prohibited items, especially rice.

  • Customs Strike Force goes tough

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has impounded about 3,000 bags of rice worth over N45 million. Two suspects, it was gathered, are been held in connection with the seizure.

    The 3,000 bags of rice were seized in Ogun State by Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali’s  Strike Force, which was set up to combat smuggling.

    The force is posted to the Customs four zonal offices in Lagos, Kaduna, Bauchi and Port Harcourt.

    Sources close to the Service told The Nation that the smuggled rice were concealed inside containers and trucks belonging to some registered companies.

    The smuggled rice numbering about 3,000 bags of 50kg has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about N45 million.

    The interception is coming barely a week after the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, said the Federal Government would close some of the land borders due to massive smuggling of rice.

    A source said: “Customs Zonal Commander of the Strike Force (Zone A),   AC Salisu Assababullah , led the team that made the seizure at Ijebu Ode,  Ogun State.

    “The  strike force was able to make the seizure through intelligence gathering and immediate response to the information gathered on the nefarious activities of the smugglers around the area.

    ”The CGC task force intercepted 3000 bags of 50kg rice smuggled into the country. They were intercepted along Ijebu Ode expressway with two suspects in custody.”

    ”We were able to get intelligence report that container laden trucks were taken to the border area, load it with smuggled rice and put seal as if it were a container released from seaports.”

    The source attributed the Strike Force’s success to other members of the team and acknowledged the Federal Government’s approval of brand new Pick-Ups for anti-smuggling which, he said, aided  the  interception .

    On June 7, 2016, the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari approved N1,5 billion for the procurement of 68 brand new Ford Pick-Ups for the Customs.

    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who briefed State House Correspondents alongside the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning and the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the operational vehicles available for the service were grossly inadequate for effective anti-smuggling.

    She added that the need to effectively patrol the borders, enhance Customs’ bid to suppress smuggling and increase revenue collection gave rise to the request to purchase 68 operational vehicles.

    Adeosun explained that having identified the need, the Service made provision for the purchase of 68 operational vehicles, Hilux, in its 2017 capital appropriation.

    The strike force got nine vehicles from the 68 vehicles approved by FEC for anti-smuggling and in two weeks, the strike force was able to intercept 3,000 smuggled rice.

    A senior Customs officer advised smugglers to engage in legitimate business.  Part of the force’s mandate, according to Customs National Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, is to check officers’ activities.

    He said the force was set up to fight smuggling.

    “The team is empowered to enter any command system on suspicion of fraudulent activities taking place or about to take place with a view to blocking all revenue leakages from the system.

    “The team is allowed to partake in the examination of any suspected container generated by the ICT,” he explained.

  • SGF Mustapha puts Customs, NCAA on red alert

    The federal government was aware of the Islamic State (IS) threat to Nigeria and alerted agencies to take measures, correspondences stumbled upon by our reporter  have revealed.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha in memorandum, put   the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on the red alert.

    In a May 25 memo by O.M. Olaoye on his behalf, the SGF informed the NCS of impending threats to commercial flights out of the country.

    The Assistant Comptroller General, Tariff and Trade at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquaters’ Abuja, acknowledged the receipt of the correspondence on June 11.

    The SGF meme said “From the foregoing report, rigorous vetting of airline personnel and screening of passengers as well as increased vigilance on restricted areas at airport are advised.”

    The NCS in a June 13 internal memo directed its Area Comptroller “to intensify the screening process of all passengers and luggage, including other measures you may deem fit to forestall any potential security breach as directed.”

    The SGF memo reads “Available report reveals that AI-Abd al-Faqlr Media, a pro Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (1515) media outlet, on 26’“ April, 2018, warned that ISIS plans to attack commercial flights and bring “bloodshed to the ’ skies”. The warning, which was issued in English, French and Arabic was distributed by Telegram and other online fora and was accompanied by an image of a clean-shaven dark-haired white man sitting on the aisle seat of a flight with a knife in his hand.

    “Statements from ISIS affiliated media groups such as Al-Abd al-Faqir media are often used to advise followers on new attack methods and targets. The image of a white man with knife in his hand suggest that the attack could be carried out with a knife as was the case during the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001.

    “It would be recalled that [SIS claimed responsibility for the explosion and death of all two hundred and twentyfour (224) passengers aboard the Russian Metrojet flight 9268 shortly after take-off from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula in October, 2015.

    “The Ai-Abd al-Faqir Media warning of 26‘” April, 2018 followed a similar statement earlier by 1515 spokesman, Abu Hassan Al-Muhajir, on 22″“ April, 2018, outlining the next stage in the global jihad. Ai~Muhailr had criticized ‘apostate governments” in Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Palestine, as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan, reiterating that holy war was the “only way forward”.

    “The ISIS appears to be re-strategizlng with more focus on the Middle East and Asia, following the loss of most of its territory in Iraq and Syria. Although Africa of appears not to be on 1515 immediate focus, the return to Africa of former ISIS fighters from Iraq and Syria as well as the existence of ISIS-linked groups such as the technically suave Abu Musab Al-Barnawiled Boko Haram faction call for increased vigilance in the aviation sector, to counter possible new strategies in the 1515 terror campaign.”

     

     

  • 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.”

  • 2019 elections: Customs to deploy scanners in ports

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has approved the deployment of scanners in the nation’s seaports to check the influx of dangerous items into the country ahead of the 2019 general elections, it was learnt.

    Speaking with The Nation, its Area Controller, Tin Can Command Mr Musa Baba Abdullahi said the Service has concluded arrangement to deploy the scanners in boosting 100 per cent cargo clearance at ports.

    He assured that the scanners would check importation of dangerous cargoes. “With regards to the 2019 elections, the Service is trying to commission the scanners. Some of them are not there now, but the Service is working seriously to ensure that the scanners are put in place.

    “As soon as the scanners are put in place, we are sure of 100 per cent cargo examination through the scanners. At least,  we would be sure of what is coming, compared to the physical examination that is there now,  sometimes, human element can come in, sometimes you might forget certain things, which might end up being a serious issue,”he said.

    On the involvement of foreigners in cargo clearance at the seaports, Musa said foreigners had taken over the clearing and forwarding jobs because most Nigerians are bad managers.

    He called for a law that would  spell it out that certain jobs must be reserved for Nigerians, especially areas where we have the capacity and comparative advantage.

    “Our people prefer foreigners than Nigerians. We need to ask ourselves why it is so; many of the bike riders are from Chad, Niger etc, while those doing tilling of houses are from Togo and Cotonou.

    “Nigerians have to change our attitude to work. Sincerely, we are not good managers. You can carry out an independent analysis of certain sectors; take note of the businesses, we work more, if we are controlled by foreigners.

    “For instance, if you give Nigerian companies, they run it aground. But if you bring in an expatriate from outside, they work hard for every seven days, you would find a Nigerian being engaged unofficially in some family issues and extended family issues. But for the expatriates, who is in the country for the job,  he would forget about those mundane things and focus on his job for 30 days,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme border, Mohammed Aliyu has reclaimed the command’s land encroached upon by some individuals.

    Findings revealed that the command is ensuring that illegal structures are demolished and those with approval will update their status by routing their request to the Comptroller-General of Customs through the Customs Area Controller.

  • Stakeholders accuse Customs of extortion

    Stakeholders in the maritime industry have accused offcials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) of extortion at the ports.

    The stakeholders which include importers, clearing agents and truck drivers allege that officials of NCS “extort” them and subject them to “second clearing.”

    The NCS has denied any such dealings, insisting that it is performing its job of securing the nation.

    Speaking at the second stakeholders meeting organised by the  Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) in Apapa, Lagos, yesterday, the stakeholders said what the Customs is doing is against the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government and ease of doing business.

    An Assistant Controller of Customs at the forum Mr Yahaya O I A said the agency has resorted to the measure because most of the importers and clearing agents operating at the sea ports are not honest in their declarations.

    Yahaya said if there is information that there was manipulation in the document presented by any importer or clearing agent for the release of cargo from the port, other customs officers will look at the papers before allowing the truck to exit the gate.

    The Managing Director of NPA Ms Hadiza Bala Usman said the agency has received several complains from importers and freight forwarders  that officials of the NCS  are subjecting their cargo to ‘second clearing” an allegation that was randomly dismissed by Yahya.

    Represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr Sokonte Davies, the NPA chief urged the Customs to put in place mechanism that would eradicate re-examination of cargo at the gate, reduce time and boost the policy of the government on the ease of doing business.

    She also directed shipping companies to develop their holding bays to international standard to receive their empty containers and reduce the gridlock on the Apapa road.

    Some of the truck drivers at the event who spoke with The Nation on the side line of the event alleged that some of the Customs officers at the Tin-Can port demand between N20,000 and N40,000 and, at times, more before allowing them to go.

    The importers and drivers appealed to Transport Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; his Finance counterpart, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Customs Comptroller-General (CCG) Col Ahmeed Ali (retd) to  eliminate what they called “open day extortion at port”.

     

     

  • Customs promotes 1,997 senior officers

    The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed  the appointments of four members of NCS management and approved the promotion of 1,997 senior officers to various ranks.

    The board’s first meeting presided over by its chairman, Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, approved the new ranks.

    The yardsticks for the promotion are: cumulative scores of annual evaluation, written examination, oral interview, seniority and availability of vacancies.

    The promotion is effective from January, 1 2017, according to the spokesman of the NCS Mr. Joseph Attah.

    Following the meeting held at the Ministry of Finance, the newly confirmed members of NCS management and other promoted officers who are serving at the headquarters were decorated with their new ranks by Comptroller-General Hamed Ali in his office at the Customs headquarters.

    They are DCS, Talatu Isa Mario  (Tariff and Trade ), ACG, Ibrahim Yakubu Maikarfi (FATS) and ACG and Ali BuKarl Ama Amajam (E,I &I) and Comptroller Adesanmi Omiye ( International Customs Desk).

    Some of the newly promoted Comptrollers are Gumi HK (Tarriffs and Trade) Itotoh G A (Comand and Staff College) Adediran JO (Ikorodu terminal), Agbara O.M (Ogun State Command)

  • Four killed as Customs, smugglers clash in Ogun

    No fewer than four persons were feared dead while six others sustained gunshot wounds yesterday in Ogun State as operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service and smugglers engaged in a shootout at Ilara, in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area.

    It was gathered the incident happened at the border town with the Republic of Benin at about 8.30am.

    Sources said trouble began when suspected smugglers while moving bags of rice in a convoy to Abeokuta, Ogun State, were accosted by a joint anti-smuggling patrol team made up of the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service and soldiers.

    It was said that as the soldiers and the Customs officers attempted to impound the contraband goods, the smugglers put up a stiff resistance, which resulted in an exchange of fire, leaving about four people dead and six others with gunshot wounds.

    The Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed the incident but he could not give the exact number of casualties.

    He admitted there was an interdiction between the Customs and smugglers at the Ilara border town yesterday.

    He said: “I learnt there was an interdiction between our men (Customs) and smugglers in Ilara border town when the smugglers wanted to move bags of rice in their vehicles out of the town to their receivers.

    “But I don’t have details of the incident but I will get back to you as soon as I am fully briefed.”

     

  • Customs collects over N104b in four months

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made over N104 billion in four months and seized two containers of fake drugs at Lagos port, it was learnt.

    The money was generated by the Tin-Can Island Customs command between January and last month.

    Although the money was lower than the N116billion target the command set for itself, its performance rate is 90.9per cent.

    In the corresponding period last year, the command generated N82.154billion which shows an increase of about N22.68billion equivalent to an improvement of about 27.61per cent.

    The command also intercepted one 40ft and one 20ft containers of fake Tramadol Hydrocloride (225mg) which were declared by the importer as electrical static converters and ciprofloxacin.

    A suspect was arrested in relation to the fake drugs.

    The command also seized three 40ft containers of E-waste, five 40ft containers of second-hand clothing and one 40ft container of used tyers which were considered toxic and dangerous to the health of the people, environment and the growth of our nation.

    Addressing reporters in his office yesterday, its Area Controller Musa Baba Abdullahi said the improvement in revenue collection was driven by the establishment of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the drive to block all areas of revenue leakages.

    “Tin-Can Island Customs command is committed to the transformation of our revenue collection and reporting system with the implementation of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) with additional functionality which is an upgrade of the NICIS 1,” he said.

     

    Musa said the command has put in place, biometric access system and a ‘one stop shop’ which enable quick treatment of declarations with valuations, classification and other related issues/queries.

     

    “Automation of the cargo examination and assignment process where examination officers are assign examination automatically, this is designed to ensure transparency in the inspection process,” he said.

     

     

  • Customs arrest four suspected smugglers, intercept N53m contraband

    The Ogun State Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, has arrested four suspected smugglers and intercepted 3, 041 bags of bags of smuggled foreign rice, 99 packs of Indian hemp, assorted vegetable oil and other items worth N53 million.

    Speaking with journalists at the Idiroko Customs Area Command on Wednesday, the new Controller of the  Command, Michael Agbara, said the seizures were made within two weeks of his resumption as controller of the command.

    One of the suspects, according to Agbara, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abeokuta, while others are still undergoing interrogation.

    Giving a breakdown of the contraband intercepted within the period under review, Agbara, said a total of 30 seizures including 295 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil, 221 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 24 smuggled second-hand vehicles and 14 bags of foreign sugar were also seized

    He noted that 99 compressed book packs of cannabis and three bales of second hand clothing were also seized from the smugglers.

    According to Agbara, the seizures were made within Abeokuta and Idiroko operational axis, adding that that he had engaged critical stakeholders in the state and neighbouring Republic of Benin, in a hid to create a synergy towards combating smuggling activities in the Command.

    He said: “I have met with critical stakeholders, including colleagues at the neighbouring Republic of Benin, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, and all heads of the sister agencies at the Idiroko border.

    Agbara said he had reduced the number of Customs checkpoints on the Sango-Idiroko Road, to engender ease of doing business for law legitimate and abiding traders conveying goods to various locations.