The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified onslaught against the smuggling syndicates in the Southeast and South-South. They are believed to be behind the smuggling of contraband and counterfeit products into the country, especially rice and fairly used vehicles popularly known as tokunbo.
In the last two years, it had recorded unprecedented breakthroughs in the war against saboteurs of the country’s economy.
First was the bursting of a powerful syndicate that specialised in importation of banned poultry products that are injurious to consumers’ health. Currently, they had been neutralised due to the proactive and effective tactics employed by the officers in the zone under the leadership of the Controller of FOU Zone C, Victor David Dimka.
After they had been dislodged in the business of smuggling contraband poultry products, the smugglers began smuggling unapproved variety of rice which they cleverly mix with bags of approved ones.
Once again, the FOU Zone C has lived up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting the country’s economy from the activities of smugglers.
At the last count, the zone had made seizure of smuggled rice with total duty paid value (DPV) of over N375, 634 million at two different occasions.
Displaying the seized smuggled lorry loads of rice which included fake Mama Africa brand of rice valued at N160, 440 and other brands of rice, with a total DPV of N235, 634,000 assured that the synergy currently existing between the NCS and other security agencies, especially the Police, Army, the State Security Services (SSS) and NAFDAC, would be strengthened to reduce the menace of smuggling in the country.
He expressed optimism that despite the upsurge in smuggling in recent times, the scourge could be effectively tackled with the support and co-operation of all patriotic Nigerians with security agencies, stating that the Nigeria Customs Service would sustain its public enlightenment/sensitisation campaign on the dangers inherent in the illegal business of smuggling, patronage and consumption of contraband goods.
“The items were brought in with every amount of ingenuity and if we are not able to check them, those who criminally brought them in would eventually have their way to the market,” said Dimka who expressed shock over the resilience of the smugglers after losing so much money as a result of the clampdown on their illegal trade. He warned transporters to always be careful and mindful of the purpose for which their vehicles are being used at any point in time since ignorance of the use of any vehicle for a criminal act can never be tolerated as an excuse.
Continuing, he said: “The story behind our success is the co-operation and support we receive from the Comptroller-General of Customs Abdullahi Dikko Inde, the management. We have also embarked on training and re-training, even as our intelligence unit is at its best to meet our challenges.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, more than ever before, is adequately trained and motivated to confront the smuggling racket. This is a warning to smugglers and would-be-smugglers that it is no longer business as usual.
“No matter the tactics they employ to deceive security agents, they cannot escape the eagle eyes of the officers of FOU Zone C and they will be arrested, prosecuted and punished. But we will continue to partner with the public on the area of intelligence gathering to help in curbing the menace.”
Disclosing the method of operation of the rice smugglers, Dimka said. “The syndicate, after buying large quantities of the banned rice, discharge them in neighbouring countries, where they are re-bagged with the bags of the ones that are approved for importation and then smuggle them into the country in small quantities.
“Despite their tricks, we are able to identify the fake products and pick them up when they have entered into the country. What we normally do is to keep tracking them until they enter into safe zone when we can move in and round them up.”
He said the consignments were intercepted along the Agbor-Okpanam Road, Onitsha/Asaba Road and Benin/Onitsha Road by his men who acted on a tip-off.
Dimka further stated that five suspects arrested in connection with the crime are currently detained in Benin, Enugu and Calabar and are helping Customs officials in their investigations, adding that those already granted bail would soon appear in court.
He warned that although officers of Nigeria Customs Service are to shoot to maim, they can shoot to kill whenever it becomes inevitable in the discharge of their duties, especially when a smuggler is armed and their lives are in danger. “They are now better trained, equipped, motivated and informed to meet their challenges in the interest of the country’s economy,” he said.
Dimka attributed the upsurge in smuggling to unbridled quest to make quick money by desperate Nigerians. He assured that his men would always support the government and implement its policies and programme geared towards the elimination of smuggling.
Seizure made in the zone which covers Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers, Cross River, Imo and Akwa Ibom states in the last one month included lorry loads of smuggled rice with Duty Paid Value of N235, 634 million, 31 assorted types of vehicles valued at N18 million.
This is in addition to 14 cartons of contraband Tramadol with 300 pieces of 100mg capsules suspected to have been illegally imported from England without NAFDAC’s officially approved registration numbers.
The Controller explained that the Tramadol capsules were deceitfully packed and concealed in a luxury bus along with many other contraband goods before it was intercepted by officers attached to the zone.
Despite the upsurge of smuggling in the country, Dimka expressed optimism that the scourge could be effectively tackled with the support and co-operation of all patriotic Nigerians, stating that the NCS would sustain its public enlightenment/sensitisation campaign on the dangers inherent in the illegal business of smuggling, patronage and consumption of imported contraband goods.
Receiving the drugs impounded on behalf of the Director-General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii, the Chief Regulatory Officer of NAFDAC Mrs. Esther Itua commended the NCS for its spirited effort to contain the problem of smuggling, even as he assured that the agency will stop at nothing to apprehend those behind the importation.
However, businessmen in the Southeast have decried the incessant seizure of their goods by the Customs officers in the zone who they accused of systematically clamping down on their trade because of their alleged refusal to pay exorbitant and illegal levies imposed by the Customs.
In a swift reaction, the Controller dismissed their claims as frivolous and unfounded, challenging anyone with genuine complaint to come up and report any case of extortion as claimed to any anti-graft agency in the country, stating that no amount of cheap blackmail will deter the officers from carrying out their legitimate duties.
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