The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Seized

  • Seized army camouflage

    •Those behind its importation must be fished out and prosecuted

    The media report that Nigerian Customs Service intercepted a container-load of military uniform along Aba-Port-Harcourt road, yet again raises a loud alarm about the state of insecurity in the country. According to Mr. Joseph Attah, the public relations officer of the agency, “The roving team of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, have seized a container with registration number MRSU 3040288 found to carry military uniforms and other items along Aba-Port Harcourt road.”

    While we applaud the agency for the interception, we wonder how the illegal items entered into the country in the first place. After all, it is customs officials that must have cleared them at the ports or land borders. If it is so, the customs must expose the officials who cleared the items, before they entered. Again, it is not enough for customs officials to announce the interception, they must go ahead to ensure that those who actually imported the items are fished out and prosecuted. We believe it is because similar conducts in the past were not punished that it continues to thrive.

    No doubt, the importation of the items in question amounts to serious national security breach, and as such there is need for inter-agency collaboration to deal with it. This is not merely an importation of unlawful items, but an attempt to undermine national security. Considering the limitations of the customs, they should involve both the secret service and the police, to fish out every person involved in the crime. Of course, that will not stop an internal enquiry by customs, to fish out and punish any of her official that may be involved.

    Not long ago, hundreds of guns, cleared at the ports, were seized along the roads in Lagos by the customs. As in the present instance, Nigerians are worried at how porous our ports and borders are. They also know that our land borders are even more porous than the ports, and as such it is possible that more dangerous and heavier military equipment and gadgets can easily be brought into the country through those borders.

    According to the customs official: “The container was taken to Owerri, where proper examination in the presence of the representative of the owner revealed the following: 11 bales containing new sets of sewn military camouflage.”  He went further: “each bale contains 400 pairs of sewn military camouflage, 15 cartons containing Altama combat boots; each carton contains 20 pairs and some sacks of made-up garments.” Of course, similar seizures of dangerous items had taken place many times across the country, and each time such a seizure is made, the nation is assailed with pictures, without much else.

    It is also important that the country of origin of the seized items be made public, while the Federal Government must protest against such illegal trade. If the government is threatening to close the Nigerian border with Benin Republic over illegal importation of rice, it should be more worried and crossed with a country that allows the export of military hardware and sundry items into our country, without the certificate of the end user.

    Government, through bilateral relations must also ensure that it has access to intelligence reports about the movement of such dangerous items, across the world. If the intelligence agencies are up and running, it is possible to gain in advance, knowledge that such items are coming into the country from friendly intelligence agencies, assuming the exporting country refuses to cooperate. Again, we reiterate that it is not enough to engage in photo-ops without getting those involved in the illegal trade punished for their criminal actions.

  • 470 guns seized at Lagos port

    470 guns seized at Lagos port

    THE Federal Government is set to meet Turkish diplomats today over the spate of illegal importation of riffles from Turkey to Nigeria.

    Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General (CG) Col. Hameed Ali (retd) said this when he briefed reporters over the seizure of another 470 rifles at Tin-Can Island port in Lagos.

    A meeting between the leadership of Customs and the Turkish Ambassador in Nigeria will hold today as part of efforts to fish out those directly or remotely connected with the importation.

    It was learnt that the new container, in which 470 rifles was found, belongs to the same importer of the 1,100 rifles seized at the port few days ago.

    Col. Ali said the Customs Service was sad to announce that in spite of their previous efforts, officers of the service at the Tin-Can Island port intercepted the 470 rifles shipped into the country from Turkey.

    The importer of the deadly cargo, the CGC said, was Great James Oil and Gas Ltd. A vessel, MV Arkas Africa, owned by Hull Blyth, was used in the illegal shipment of the guns.

    The importer, Col. Ali said, used the elbow plumbing plastic he declared  in his bill of lading as a decoy to deceive the service before the container No. CMAU189817/8 was subjected to 100 per cent examination by his officers and discovered the 470 guns that were concealed inside the container.

    The guns, concealed in a 20-foot container, were seized by the Area Comptroller Tin-Can Island Customs Command Mr. Bashar Yusuf.

    Ali said: “Following increase in the number of arms seizures in recent times, the Customs Area Comptroller of Tin-Can Island port ordered a detailed profile of all imports, especially those from the same source with previous seizures.

    “The profile of containers from Turkey eventually narrowed down to one 2@ft container No. CMAU189817/8.  The terminal operator was consequently directed to quarantine the flagged container for stricter analysis. It was later transferred to the enforcement unit, where 100 per cent examination revealed 470 pump action rifles as against elbow plumbing plastics on its bill of lading.

    “The discovery brings to a total of 2,671 rifles seized within the last eight months of this year.

    “While the audacity of these criminals to think that they can succeed in smuggling these dangerous weapons into the country successfully remains worrisome, the consolation is that the new Nigerian Customs Service is now responsive and capable of meeting the challenge posed by these criminals.

    “This is what the present government requires of all citizens. We must rise up and remain vigilant to deal decisively with the enemies of this nation.

    •Some of the 470 Pump Action rifles seized at the Lagos Port…yesterday PHOTOS: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

    “As our sea ports become increasingly impenetrable, we suspect they may want to try other entry points. Let me assure Nigerians that the Service is presently at critical apart following my directive to all Customs Area Comptrollers yesterday. We will do all in our power to further secure this country.”

    Reiterating his warning that any Customs officer involved in the release of suspected containers would henceforth be arrested, paraded the way the police parade suspected criminals and charge to court for prosecution, Ali said: “The policy of reward for good deeds and punishment for those who compromise will continue in the service under my leadership.

    “Since this container belongs to the same importer of the 1100 rifles, the ongoing investigation will be reinvigorated to fish out all those directly or remotely connected with these dangerous importations.”

  • 102,099 cartons of imported poultry seized in 7 months

    102,099 cartons of imported poultry seized in 7 months

    ‘The tonnes of frozen poultry products intercepted during the time under review showed that the cabal behind this illicit trade has remained adamant despite the renewed onslaught by Customs’

    In about seven months no fewer than 102,099 cartons of frozen poultry products have been impounded from smugglers by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the Southsouth and Southeast.

    Smugglers in the regions have had a bad run, losing over N1billion of their illegal imports.

    The seized consignments are destroyed as soon as they are grabbed. But have the smugglers been deterred by this huge loss occasioned by the clampdown on smuggling activities in the zones, recently reinvigorated by the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, who took office last October.

    The tonnes of frozen poultry products intercepted during the time under review showed that the cabal behind this illicit trade has remained adamant despite the renewed onslaught by Customs.

    On the other hand, the Comptroller Mohammed has vowed to fight smuggling and illegal importation to a standstill, especially in the zone, describing the activities of smugglers as sabotage to the economy.

    The huge number of seizure of poultry products recorded since he took over control in the zone, showed that Customs boss is making good his threat.

    Within the short period, 102,099 cartons of illegally imported frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N1, 275,712, 500 were impounded, aside from other contraband also seized.

    Speaking recently, during the public destruction of some of the seized poultry products, Mohammed, the impounded goods were destroyed in accordance with government policy.

    He asserted that poultry is still under import prohibition and any of such found will be seized and destroyed in compliance with the relevant laws and government policies.

    Given a graphic detail of how one of the seizures was made, the Controller, revealed that “operatives of the FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri on 19 intercepted 24,032 cartons of imported frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N259, 545,600, conveyed in a Mack Truck with registration number AJL 861 XA along Benin Ekiadolor axis by Lagos Expressway, Edo State. The poultry items include turkey parts, chicken parts, poultry gizzard amongst others”.

    He noted that the seizures were achieved through the diligence of his officers and men, who he said have recently been encouraged to put in their best with the recent promotion of Officers and men of the Service by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd).

    He reiterated the commitment of his officers to ensure that smuggling is brought to a minimal level.

    He said, “As trained officers, in the course of our duty, when we intercept any suspected goods and confirm it to be brought in contrary to the laws it will be seized and disposed of. We will continue to make sure that the public is adequately informed so that importation will be done in conformity with the laws and we will stem the menace of smuggling”.

    He further advised Nigerians against the importation of frozen poultry products, stressing that, “It adversely affects the nation’s poultry industry and have been adjudged by health authorities to be injurious to health. We have to encourage farmers and those in the agriculture sector to be productive, self-reliant, provide employment and boost the economy instead of sending out our foreign exchange and encouraging capital flight”.

    He said three suspects were arrested in connection with the recent seizures made in Benin, adding that they will soon be charged to court, while enjoining smugglers to shun the illicit business and engage in legitimate trade to boost the nation’s economy.

    On hand to witness the destruction of the poultry products were representatives of other security agencies including the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security (DSS), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Also recently, consignments of medicaments including the banned tramadol with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N178, 209,310 and other unregistered drugs were intercepted in the zone, as well as foreign rice, used shoes, machine spare parts with a DPV of N112, 617,700.

    Mohammed, who paraded the consignments before journalists, also disclosed that the Unit recovered the sum of N48, 742,845 in underpayments within the time under review.

    He said that the Nigeria Customs Service has remained unflinching in its mission to protect the wellbeing of citizens of Nigeria through the performance of her statutory duties.

    According to him, the hard work and efforts of the Unit has paid off with 17 seizures of various contraband items with duty paid value of N112, 617,700 in the month of March. The Unit during its anti-smuggling operations in March also intercepted and detained a huge consignment of medicaments worth N178, 209,310 in duty paid value. This brings the sum of duty paid value for seizures and goods in detention made in March to N250, 951,010″.

    Giving further breakdown of the seizures, the Comptroller revealed that a total of 2455 bags of rice with DPV of N77, 558,800,  1266 foot wears 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 and 40 bales of used clothing with DPV of N5,280,000 and three vehicles with DPV of N4,050,000.

    Also speaking on the medicaments that officers of the Unit intercepted in the Agbor axis of the Zone, the Comptroller gave the details as 268 cartons of Tramadol, 202 cartons of Pullegra, 36 cartons of Reall Octra, 928 packets of Tramadol”.

    He said a sample of the various medicaments has been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for tests and verification while the consignment is being detained for further investigations.

    Mohammed noted that “the nefarious activities of smugglers endanger the health and safety of Nigerian citizens, affects the economy, and even pose a threat to national security”.

    He reiterated the unflinching resolve of the Zone under his watch to make the Zone uncomfortable for smugglers to operate, urging Nigerians to “be patriotic and report any smuggling activities in their areas to the service, assuring that any valuable information forwarded to the Unit will be treated in confidence.

    The Comptroller commended the untiring efforts of the officers and men of the Unit who he noted have continually seen to revenue generation amounting to millions of naira.

    He noted that the continuous support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali (and the Service Management team in the areas of staff training and provision of working tools has further strengthened anti-smuggling operations in the Zone.

    Mohammed therefore advised smugglers as well as fraudulent importers “to channel their resources towards legitimate trade and economic ventures and desist from engaging in smuggling activities, warning that the NCS will not renege on its statutory functions of suppression of smuggling.

     

  • Contrabands worth N219m seized as smugglers attack Customs men in Ogun

    Men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) were attacked by smugglers while on patrol along Ilaro/Oja Odan axis of Ogun State.

    The smugglers were said to have opened fire on sighting the customs men, who were on routine patrol of the area.

    The attack which occurred on Sunday March 26, 2107, left bullet holes on one of the customs’ operational vehicles.

    The operation led to the seizure of two vehicles stocked with assorted smuggled bags of rice.

    Speaking during a press briefing held at the Idiroko Customs Area Command, Controller of Customs in Ogun State, Mr Gangua Hassan, said his men were driving the vehicles stocked with rice to the Idi-Iroko area command, when they were ambushed by the fiendish smugglers.

    He explained that the smugglers escaped from the scene, while no life was lost.

    He said: ’’On March 26, 2017 at about 3 a.m, while on routine patrol along Ilaro-Oja- Odan axis, my officers intercepted two vehicles stocked with foreign bags of rice believed to have been smuggled into Nigeria. In the process of conveying the said items to Customs House in Idiroko, some hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons barricaded the road and subsequently opened fire on the officers. My gallant officers repelled the attack and managed to secure one of the two seized vehicles with partial damage to our official vehicle.

    ‘’You can imagine what would have been the fatality if my officers did not exercise caution in a life-threatening encounter with dare-devil smugglers and economic saboteurs. This is why the media has a major role to play in exposing the grave danger customs officers face in the discharge of their duty, especially in Ogun State.’’

    About seven vehicles loaded with assorted rice and frozen poultry products were intercepted and brought into the customs’ office in the course of the press briefing.

    Gangua also disclosed that despite the harsh economic situation of the country, the command recorded an impressive feat in its revenue generation and anti-smuggling operation between January and February this year.

    ‘’The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service for the first two months of the year 2017 (January and February) recorded an_ impressive performance in the revenue generation and anti-smuggling campaign.

    ‘’In detailing the activity for the period of January and February 2017, the command collected N906, 684, 498.26. However, despite daunting economic challenges, the command is working assiduously towards achieving and even surpassing the monthly revenue target given to it.’’

    He noted that the increase in revenue generation was due to a renewed fight against smuggling activities in the command.

    ‘’The breakthrough of these gigantic successes is a manifestation of reinvigorated, aggressive and effective anti-smuggling strategy adopted by Ogun Area Command under my leadership,’’ he said.

    Speaking further, he said: ‘’In the anti-smuggling drive, a lot of successes are being recorded on daily basis. The tireless efforts by the officers and men of the command yielded a total of 344 seizures with Duty Paid Value of N219,813,85, from January 1 to March 26, 2017.The items seized include; rice, frozen poultry products, second hand shoes, vegetable oil, vehicles, motorcycles, second hand clothing, used female hand bags, cannabis, boat engines, second tyres, used fridges and freezers.’’

    Gangua added: ‘’The command made spectacular seizures of 14 units of vehicles, 823 bags of (50 kg) rice, 35 gallons (25 litres) of vegetable oil and 220 cartons of frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N27,296,314 between March 20 to March 26,2017.As you can see, we still have about 1,800 bags of rice, frozen poultry products and some smuggled vehicles that are yet to be deposited in the Government Warehouse.’’

  • EFCC identifies owner of $2.1m seized cash

    EFCC identifies owner of $2.1m seized cash

    Ex-federal agency chief may be declared wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) yesterday said it had traced about $2.1million (N413million) seized at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to a former Executive Secretary of a federal parastatal.

    The commission said it might be forced to declare the man wanted if he does not show up for questioning.

    The agency said all attempts to locate the man in Lagos and Abuja proved futile.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on July 3 arrested a bureau de change operator, Mr. Ibiteye John Bamidele, at MMA Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos with the cash.

    The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said Bamidele was arrested by anti-narcotic officials, who suspected that the cash was to be laundered.

    The NDLEA handed over the suspect to the EFCC on July 8, following his confession that he was on money laundering errand for the ex-official.

    It was, however, learnt that all attempts by the EFCC to interrogate the suspect had failed.

    A top source in the agency said: “The EFCC has finalised a plan to declare the former parastatal’s chief wanted, over a $2.1million money laundering case.

    “The anti-graft agency has been on his trail for weeks, since a certain Ibiteye John Bamidele named him as the owner of a $2,198,900 haul, recovered from him by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

    “Ibiteye was arrested on July 3, 2015 at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos by the NDLEA and handed over to the EFCC on July 8, for further investigation.

    “The suspect, upon interrogation, named as the owner of the money, but all efforts to locate him both in Lagos and his known address in Abuja proved futile.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “We have plans to declare the man  wanted. We urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Commission or the nearest police station.”

  • 13 Customs officers in trouble over seized N600m vehicles

    13 Customs officers in trouble over seized N600m vehicles

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation  Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos has made a huge catch, seizing N600 million worth of exotic vehicles.

    It made the seizure following the bursting of a smuggling ring that specialises in importing vehicles through the seaports without paying duty, The Nation learnt.

    Sources said most of the vehicles, including new 2013 and 2014 models, passed through the Lagos ports without payment of the 35 per cent duty. They added that the importers and clearing agents declared the cargoes as used cars purportedly manufactured in 2006 and 2007 to deceive the Customs and short-change the Federal Government.

    The vehicles include eight 2014 custom-built Rolls Royce, 2013 Mercedes Benz 700, Lexus GX 460, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX.L, BKA bus, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Camry, Infinity QX56, Pajero Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and other expensive brands.

    The market value of the Rolls Royce, security sources said, is about N50 million each and the importer was expected to pay N15 million duty on each vehicle. The importer, it was alleged, paid N1 million to get the vehicles out of the port.

    Some of the vehicles, sources said, had no Customs paper.

    More than 13 officers of the Customs responsible for the release of the vehicles, it was gathered, may be sacked after the probe ordered by Customs Comptroller-General Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi on the matter.

    Some of the vehicles, a source said, were released from the port at night to beat security checks.

    It was learnt that some of the importers used the new number plates on some of the vehicles to beat Customs’ checks on the road. But, unknown to them, Customs officials from the FOU Zone ‘A’ had been monitoring their movement in Lagos for days before swooping on them.

    Some officers of the zone, the source said, used the Customs camouflage, while others were deployed by the Acting Controller, Turaki Usman Adamu, in mufti to trace and track the smuggled vehicles.

    Sources revealed that the command made 336 seizures valued at N107 million in the first 25 days of Turaki’s assumption.

    Turaki confirmed that custom- built vehicles were intercepted by his officers and men, but refused to mention the number and the value. The Customs headquarters had been briefed, he said.

    The Customs chief, however, said following a tip-off, his Lagos Roving Patrol Team (LRPT) also intercepted seven trucks of smuggled textile materials from a warehouse around Oshodi, whose value was yet to be determined.

    “On Thursday, August 14, following a tip-off, the Lagos Roving Patrol Team, intercepted seven trucks of Jumbo bales of suspected textile materials from a warehouse around Oshodi.

    “The trucks have been deposited in the government warehouse for further investigation and to determine the value.

    “I am pleased to inform you that the Unit also recorded  a total of 336 different seizures of assorted offending goods valued at N107,513,308 with a duty of N42,937,110 and 19 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

    “Between January and August 14, the total amount of revenue as a result of our intervention from ports and border stations stood at N89,337,981.00. It is good to add that between first and 14th of this month, we generated N28,128,140. The amount is higher than that one generated in August last year.

    “Therefore, I am advising smugglers in the Southwest to relocate or else they would face the full wrath of the law.

    “We have spread our dragnets to all the nooks and crannies of our areas of jurisdiction and will not stop at dealing with the menace,” Turaki said.

    Turaki, who said the unit was complementing the efforts of other Customs Commands in ensuring that there was total compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government on trade, however, assured that genuine and compliant importers and their representatives of  support, stressing that the unit is committed to boosting legitimate trade in line with global best practice.

     

  • Ibori: Seized Lekki mansion was built in 1994

    Jailed former Delta State Governor James Onanefe Ibori yesterday criticised the report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discovered and seized his “secret mansion” located at 5, Alpha Beach Road, Lekki, Lagos.

    He claimed that because the report was credited to EFCC’s spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, “actually made it more bizarre.”

    Uwujaren, had, in a statement on January 24 said the property is suspected to be one of the proceeds of money laundering for which the ex-governor was convicted in the United Kingdom.

    He had added that “the attachment of the property is the fall out of continued efforts by the anti- graft agency to trace, find and seize properties that were acquired with stolen funds by the former governor.”

    Ibori’s Media Assistant Tony Eluemunor, in a statement yesterday, argued that the mansion could not have been secret at all as it was listed down in Asset Declaration Forms he filled in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He added that the house has never been a secret.

    Ibori said: “Despite EFCC’s insinuations to the contrary, the Alpha Beach Road house was built as far back as 1994, and so could not have, by any leap of the imagination, been built with proceeds of corrupt or not corrupt, from my office as State Governor because I began to live in that house five good years before I was voted into office.

    “For the records, Chief Ibori reiterates that the house was not only built in 1994 before he became Governor, it has featured in his asset declarations. Also, Ibori has been cooperating fully with the London Metropolitan Police since the preliminary stages of the confiscation process began, in line with the United Kingdom Criminal Justice Act (CJA) of 1988, so he does not see why the house has become an issue – especially as Nigeria has surrendered her jurisdictional sovereignty to Britain.

    He went on: “Most of all, the house in question could never have been new to the EFCC as it was mentioned in one of those sponsored and politically motivated petitions (to the Code of Conduct Bureau) against Ibori in November 2006.

    “Details about that petition featured in the print and electronic media. So, even if EFCC never saw that house listed in Ibori’s Asset Declaration Forms, the agency could not have been totally blind and deaf to those cacophonous November 2006 mentions of the house in both the print and electronic media.

    “It is likely that the same political persecutors who were relentlessly after Ibori even by 2006, and who sponsored that baseless petition then, are still the ones behind this claim that EFCC, like a later day Mungo Park, has just discovered the River Niger,” the statement said.”

    Well, Nigerians should note that this is one more evidence that what Ibori has faced, and is still facing even after he has been sentenced, is just political persecution,” Eluemunor, said.