The Nation Newspaper

Tag: customs

  • Customs arraigns Chinese for unlawful exportation of wood

    Customs arraigns Chinese for unlawful exportation of wood

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) yesterday arraigned a Chinese, Zhu Jinxin, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly attempting to export several logs of wood that was prohibited.

    The prosecution said he brought the wood in a container to Tin-Can port to be exported to China last November 16.

    NCS said he did so notwithstanding an export prohibition on the wood which was in force at the time.

    The alleged offence, the Service said, is contrary to Section 64(1)(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Jinxin pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

    Justice Hadiza Shagari granted him bail for N10 million with two sureties.

    Trial will begin on October 4.

  • Customs seizes 1,533 generators, 542 cartons of poultry products

    Customs seizes 1,533 generators, 542 cartons of poultry products

    In a major operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 1,533 generators and 542 cartons of banned frozen poultry products with a street value of N37,562,000.

    The generators were found on a Mack truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; the poultry products were impounded in a minibus on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway.

    The generators are the two stroke type, popularly known as I pass my neighbour.

    The Shittu Almaruf-led Customs team, investigation revealed, patrol approved and unapproved routes across Ogun State for smugglers.

    It was learnt that the Customs may have put generator dealers around Shagamu, Mowe/Ibafo, Idiroko, Owode, Alapoti, Lusada and Atan out of business.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that the vehicles and the goods have been kept at the government warehouse, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    “The items were subjected to 100 per cent examination to ascertain the quantity and confiscated in line with Sections 46 & 47 of the Customs Management Act, Cap 45 LFN.

    “The team is devising other means of ensuring that the activities of the smugglers in its area of operation are curtailed and we have been carrying anti-smuggling campaigns to all the nooks and cranny of Ogun State, to show them that we are deeply committed to the task of suppressing smuggling.

    “By seizing the generators, the Nigeria Customs is merely enforcing a law, which emanated from a memo of the Federal Ministry of Environment, advising the government on its health implications. The ban placed on the importation of I pass my neighbour generator is not new. It came into effect on April 28, 2011 and was officially gazetted in May of the same year.

    “The Federal Government gazette No 47 Volume 98 stated categorically that the purpose of this regulation is to restore, preserve and improve the quality of air.

    “The ban is to safe guard citizens’ right and access to clean air, reduce/prevent air pollution and improve the health of Nigerians, especially in the urban areas with high incidence of air pollution; in view of the poisonous gaseous emission,” a source said.

    The source added: “With regard to the seized frozen poultry products, we are not relenting in our efforts to protect the health of Nigerians as well as the huge investments of our local farmers.

    “We will continue to make life difficult for smugglers and frustrate their efforts until they hearken to the voice of reason and stop sabotaging the efforts of the government.

    “These products, beyond the fact that they fall under the import prohibition list, are also very detrimental to human health, hence not good for consumption.”

    Almaruf told The Nation that the team would continue to go after smugglers retriving his men’t encounter with miscreants and street urchins, who pretend to be smugglers. He said such pressure would not deter the team from smuggling activities to its barest minimum.

  • Customs seizes 1,533 generators, 542 poultry products

    Customs seizes 1,533 generators, 542 poultry products

    In a major operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 1,533 generators and 542 cartons of banned frozen poultry products with a street value of N37,562,000.

    The generators were found on a Mack truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; the poultry products were impounded in a minibus on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway.

    The generators are the two stroke type, popularly known as I pass my neighbour.

    The Shittu Almaruf-led Customs team, investigation revealed, prowl approved and unapproved routes across Ogun State in pursuit  of smugglers.

    It was learnt that the Customs may have put generator dealers around Shagamu, Mowe/Ibafo, Idiroko, Owode, Alapoti, Lusada and Atan out of business.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that the vehicles and the goods have been kept at the government warehouse, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    “The items were subjected to 100 per cent examination to ascertain the quantity and confiscated in line with Sections 46 & 47 of the Customs Management Act, Cap 45 LFN.

    “The team is devising other means of ensuring that the activities of the smugglers in its area of operation are curtailed and we have been carrying anti-smuggling campaigns to all the nooks and cranny of Ogun State, to show them that we are deeply committed to the task of suppressing smuggling.

    “By seizing the generators, the Nigeria Customs is merely enforcing a law, which emanated from a memo of the Federal Ministry of Environment, advising the government on its health implications. The ban placed on the importation of I pass my neighbour generator is not new. It came into effect on April 28, 2011 and was officially gazette in May of the same year.

    “The Federal Government gazette No 47 Volume 98 stated categorically that the purpose of this regulation is to restore, preserve and improve the quality of air.

    “The ban is to safe guard citizens’ right and access to clean air, reduce/prevent air pollution and improve the health of Nigerians, especially in the urban areas with high incidence of air pollution; in view of the poisonous gaseous emission,” a source said.

    The source added: “With regard to the seized frozen poultry products, we are not relenting in our efforts to protect the health of Nigerians as well as the huge investments of our local farmers.

    “We will continue to make life difficult for smugglers and frustrate their efforts until they hearken to the voice of reason and stop sabotaging the efforts of the government.

    “These products, beyond the fact that they fall under the import prohibition list, are also very detrimental to human health, hence not good for consumption.”

    Almaruf told The Nation that the team would continue to go after smugglers retriving his men’t encounter with miscreants and street urchins, who pretend to be smugglers. He said such pressure would not deter the team from smuggling activities to its barest minimum.

  • Customs intercept smuggled generators, frozen poultry products

    Customs intercept smuggled generators, frozen poultry products

    The Headquarters Compliance Team, Ogun Axis, of the Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted a truck loaded with 1,533 cartons of smuggled generators popularly known as “I better pass my neighbour .’’

    The Team Leader, Assistant Comptroller Shittu Almaruf, made the disclosure in a statement yesterday in Lagos.

    He said that the seizures were made on May 19, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    “Similarly, the team in another operation intercepted a bus along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway, laden with 542 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products,’’ according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Almaruf said that his squad was saddled with the responsibility of enforcement of the fiscal policies of the Federal Government with regard to trade, in conjunction with other anti-smuggling arms of the NCS.

    He said that after the seizures were made, the truck was taken to the Customs House in Abeokuta, alongside the Mini-bus conveying the frozen poultry products, where 100 per cent examination was conducted.

    “The items were subjected to 100 per cent examination to ascertain the quantity of items seized; following which they were converted to seizures in line with Sections 46 & 47 of the Customs Management Act, Cap 45 LFN,’’ Almaruf said.

    He said that the team was devising other means of ensuring that the activities of smugglers were curtailed.

    Almaruf further said that the team had been taking anti-smuggling campaign to all nooks and crannies of Ogun.

    Giving reasons for seizure of the generators, he said that the “Nigeria Customs is merely enforcing a law which emanated from a memo of the Federal Ministry of Environment advising the Government on the health implication.’’

    “This ban came into effect on April 28, 2011, and was officially gazetted in May of the same year. You will recall that the Federal Government gazette No 47 Volume 98, stated categorically that the purpose of this regulation is to restore, preserve and improve the quality of air.”

    He said that the interception was intended to safe guard the citizens’ right and access to clean air; reduce and prevent air pollution; and improve the health of Nigerians, especially in urban areas with high incidence of air pollution.

    “With regard to the seized frozen poultry products, we are not relenting in our efforts to protect the health of Nigerians as well as the huge investments of our local farmers.

    “We will continue to frustrate the efforts of the smugglers until they hearken to the voice of reason. These products, apart from the fact that they fall under the import prohibition list, are also very detrimental to human health; hence not good for consumption,’’ Almaruf said.

    The team leader commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the management for their support on logistics and provision of the necessary tools of operations.

    He said that the Headquarters Compliance Team was endowed with officers and men with the requisite capacity, competence and wherewithal to fight smugglers.

    Almaruf said that the team had faced series of hostilities by miscreants and street urchins who pretended to be smugglers.

    He said that such pressure would not deter the team from performing its constitutional duty of suppressing smuggling activities to its barest minimum.

    Almaruf, however, said that his team, alongside other anti-smuggling arms, would always protect the interest of compliant importers and their representatives, in line with the legitimate trade facilitation policy of the NCS.

    He urged Nigerians to support the Compliance team and other Customs formations in the war against smuggling.

  • 42 held as Customs seizes N527.8m goods

    42 held as Customs seizes N527.8m goods

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, has arrested 42 persons and seized N527,830,350 worth of goods between January and last month.

    Its Area Comptroller, Umar Dahiru said the unit impounded N428.66 million goods in the same period last year.

    The items included: rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, 32 units of vehicles, 12 buses, general merchandise comprising new and used textile materials.

    Other seized goods were new and used foot wears, insecticides, spaghetti, noodles, various soaps and detergents, used tyres, narcotics, compressors, hard drugs and Indian hemp.

    The controller said the items were seized in line with Sections 46 and 47 of the Customs & Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004; on “Forfeiture of goods improperly imported and penalty for improper importation of goods”.

    “Despite the harsh economic realities, the unit was able to actualise the set objectives of the service, particularly in enforcing the fiscal policies of the Federal Government. It is instructive to note that the successes recorded came as a result of the painstaking effort of the operatives.

    “The unit has remained undeterred and unshaken in the face of aggressiveness on the part of the smugglers and their collaborators.

    “Smuggling is a global menace and countries all over the world are constantly strategising on how to suppress it in their domain, using various methods.

    “In view of this, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, have keyed into the various strategies, including the use of ICT in gathering intelligence,” Umar said.

    The Service, according to him, believes that the fight against smuggling cannot be undertaken by the Customs alone. “Hence our call on Nigerians to partner us in ensuring complete decimation and blocking of their supply chains. We do this principally because of our deep commitment towards ensuring the protection of the economy and enforcement of fiscal policies in terms of trade.

    “Our resolve is unshaken and our commitment is total. We will stop at nothing until we are satisfied that we have completely suppressed smuggling in our clime,” the Controller said.

     

  • Customs battles smugglers

    Customs battles smugglers

    Officers and men of the Oyo/Osun Customs Command have renewed their efforts to flush out smugglers who take advantage of the nation’s porous land borders to bring in contraband goods into the country. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    The Oyo/Osun Customs Command headquarters, venue of the press briefing was filled to capacity. Many stakeholders were present to witness the huge seizures of smuggled goods by the command.

    It was a major achievement recorded by the command in less than two weeks after the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (retired), visited the command.

    In his motivational speech while addressing the officers and men of the command, Col. Ali called on them to re-double their effort and make life difficult for unrepentant smugglers who are willingly determined to destroy the nation’s economy. That memorable visit may have inspired the officers to wage total war against the smugglers.

    The Command’s Controller, Mr Temitope Ogunkua addressed reporters during the event.

    The elated Controller had, after the press briefing, led the reporters to the places where the seized goods were kept.

    Some of the seized goods included two Prado SUV, three IVECO buses, white Ford bus, a Mazda pick-up van, over 100 bags of rice and 10 (25 litres) gallons of vegetable oil.

    The items, he said, were seized from different border posts in the state.

    According to him, there is no casualty during the operations. He, however, said the suspects were at-large and have been declared wanted.

    The Command said it has discovered scores of illegal distillers operating within its jurisdiction and who produce large quantities of alcoholic beverages but refused to pay excise duty to government. It therefore threatened to arrest them.

    It warned illegal distillers to pay the necessary excise duty to the government or risk arrest and prosecution. Ogunkua said ýthe command had put up intensive surveillance aimed at discovering where the illegal distillers operated.

    He said: “I am following up all already discovered extant factories within the jurisdiction of the command while intensive surveillance will be put in place to discover more of such factories.

    “This will add to the command’s revenue profile. The officers and men of the command are more determined and committed more than ever to rid the command of all smuggling activities.”

    While displaying the items seized, the controller said two black Prado SUV cars were intercepted through intelligence on April 10.

    Also three IVECO bus (white colour) with registration numbers AGL269XK, AE241MEK were seized, while the third which had no registration number was intercepted along Igbo-Ora/Idere axis.

    According to Ogunkua, the buses were loaded with smuggled bags of rice hence the value of duty payable will be ascertained after examination.

    Other goods displayed included a white Ford bus with registration number SMK 679 XM conveying assorted goods which was also intercepted along the same axis.

    Also a blue Mazda pick-up with chassis number JM2BJ14M23-1502744 and a Toyota Hiace pick-up suspected to be smuggled into the country were also intercepted by officers and men of the command.

    “I want to state that the visit of the current management team led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) boosted the morale of officers and ignited a new passion for hard work in them,” he said. ý

    The Controller said the officers and men of the command are more determined and committed than ever before to rid the Oyo/Osun Command of Customs Service of all smuggling activities.

    “We call on all genuine importers of vehicles and other general goods to continue with their businesses,” he said.

  • Six dead as Customs, smugglers clash

    Six dead as Customs, smugglers clash

    Six people were killed yesterday by stray bullets as operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Ogun State clashed with armed smugglers in Oke-Odan Village on Idiroko Road.

    The victims, including two infants and a couple, were hit in their homes and shops in a gale of stray bullets, allegedly fired by the NCS operatives.

    It was gathered that the Customs operatives intercepted and seized an undisclosed bags of rice concealed in three vehicles in the area.

    The NCS operatives, who were towing the vehicles bearing the seized bags of rice away, sighted a vehicle coming from the rear and thinking it was the smugglers, shot sporadically to scare them away but the bullets allegedly hit innocent persons.

    Some of the victims died on the spot while others died in the hospital.

    The Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Usman Abdulahhi, told reporters that there was a clash between them and smugglers and in the process, two people were killed.

    Usman claimed that the smugglers blocked all access roads, attacked and torched four Customs check points in clear contravention of the Customs Excise and Management Act (CEMA).

    According to him, obstructing Customs officers on legitimate duty attracts two years imprisonment.

    He said NCS had to invite police officers from Owode Divisional Headquarters before they could clear the road.

    Also a suspect was arrested in connection with the incident.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed that the police have custody of the suspect identified as Oke.

    Adejobi said two persons died and that their remains have been kept at a morgue of a public hospital in the area.

     

     

  • Customs probes two over N537.3m seizures

    Customs probes two over N537.3m seizures

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is investigating two unamed  persons for 203 assorted seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) worth N537.3 million, it was learnt at the weekend.

    The disclosure was part of the scorecard presented by the Head of Headqurters Compliance Team, Northern Axis, Assistant Comptroller Musa Jalo on the team’s operation.

    Customs Comptroller General Col. Hammed Alli inaugurated the team in December to complement efforts of policing the borders.

    The assistant comptroller said records showed that the enforcement of the compliance team in the North yielded results that have made smuggling unattractive.

    He said smugglers were now aware they could be jailed, besides losing money.

    Jalo added: “Since the establishment of the Compliance Team, the Northern axis has been on the offensive against smugglers.

    “Our achievements justify management’s decision to set up this team, intended to block leakages and intensify enforcement operations.”

    But he vowed that the NCS would crush smuggling, and asked Nigerians to provide information to assist it to win the war against smuggling.

    The seized items, according to Jalo are: 3,923* 25 litres jerry cans of vegetable oil, 1,649*50kg bags of foreign rice, 2,632 bales of second hand cloths and 4,073 cartons of spaghetti .

    Also seized are 17,580 cartons of foreign soap ( GIV), 451 Used types, 451 cartons of assorted drugs and 15 cars, 46 buses, and 21 trucks.

    The document reads: “In the period under review, the Headquarters Compliance Team, Northern axis, recorded 203 assorted seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N537,333,128.00.”

  • Customs official assaults FAAN employee at Lagos Airport 

    An official of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Thursday assaulted a staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over right of way near the Monument Gate of the cargo terminal.

    The struggle over right of way which occasioned a gridlock around the cargo complex propelled the Customs official to assault the FAAN staff using a tear gas.

    From the injuries sustained during the attack, the FAAN personnel have been rushed to the Nigerian Air Force hospital where he is receiving treatment.

    According to sources trouble started when the Customs staff who was in mufti attempted to access the Monument Gate through the exit thereby leading to gridlock on the road.

    The battered FAAN staff, sources hinted was in the company of some of his colleagues on his way out of the Monument Gate at around 9:40am before he was attacked with teargas severally in the eyes by the Customs staff for daring to challenge his wrong driving.

    The Customs personnel it was learnt was arrested by the Police at the airport and has been released following intervention from his senior colleagues.

    The FAAN staff narrated his ordeal: “The Customs officer was in mufti when the incident happened Thursday. I was driving out of the Hajj and Cargo Terminal through the exit point when I saw a vehicle driving in through the exit point. I actually challenged him, but I was still inside the car and all of a sudden, the man I later gathered was a Customs officer came out and rained blows on me.

    “As I was making attempt to come out of the car, he held me by the neck and brought out a teargas and sprayed it directly into my eyes. It took the intervention of passers-by before I could be rescued from his grip. Later, he attempted to run away, but he was chased by some of my colleagues’ right into the Customs complex.”

    Also, the Chief Cargo Officer of FAAN, Mr. Benson Oweka confirmed the incident in an interview with our correspondent at the hospital.

    He said the department received a distress call that one of its staff was being beaten by Customs at the Monument Gate and before they could rush down to the place.

  • Customs seizes 226kg of Indian hemp

    Customs seizes 226kg of Indian hemp

    The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted   226 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp, concealed in fairly used imported clothes at the Oyo axis of the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    The suspected smugglers abandoned the goods and escaped through the forest.

    Addressing reporters at the Bodija Ibadan Customs Area Command Headquarters yesterday, the Area Controller, Temitope Ogunkua, said the drugs were intercepted through intelligence gathering.

    According to him, the street value of the hemp is over N2.2million.

    Also recovered were a fairly used cabstar (white) with chassis no 115666.

    This vehicle was found to be loaded with 27 bales of fairly used clothes, one bale of Cannabis Sativa and seven rolls of linen materials.

    Others were a fairly used Mitsubishi Space wagon with chassis no JMBLNN43WS200132 and was loaded with six bales of used clothes, six rolls of linen materials, four bales of Indian hemp.

    The Cannabis Sativa was later handed over to the state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) , Mrs. Omolade Faboyede