Biodun Akomolafe
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Nigeria Customs Service has recorded the seizure of N668million goods and arrested 40 smugglers within its area of its operations in the first quarter of the year.
This was made know in a release made available by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit Uche Ejesieme.
The Unit during the period under reference effected four hundred and eighty one (481) different Seizures of offending/prohibited items Valued at five hundred and twenty seven million, eight hundred and thirty thousand, three hundred and fifty naira (N527,830,350.00) only with a Payable Duty of One Hundred and Forty Million, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Naira (N140,562,590.00) Only and a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Naira (N668,392,940.00) Only. The Unit also apprehended forty two (42) suspects in connection with the Seizures. The Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Umar Mohammed Dahiru, gave the narratives as follows:
One hundred and forty one (141) different Seizures of Rice, totalling eight thousand, one hundred and forty eight (8,148) bags of 50kg parboiled rice and fifty (50) bags of 25kg with Duty Paid Value of Fifty Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N53,124,500.00) Only.
One hundred and twelve (112) different Seizures of imported Frozen Poultry Products, totalling twenty thousand, seven hundred and forty two (20,742) cartons with Duty Paid Value of One Hundred and Twelve Million, Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (N112,006,800.00) Only.
Fifty (50) different Seizures of Vegetable oil, totalling two thousand, five hundred and nineteen (2,519) kegs of 25 liters, twenty four (24) kegs of 10 liters, one hundred and forty (140) cartons of kings oil, one hundred and twenty (120) pieces, one thousand, two hundred and fifty (1,250) empty kegs with Duty Paid Value of Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Four Hundred Naira (N18,788,400.00) Only.
Thirty two (32) Units of Vehicles, twelve (12) cut buses with Duty Paid Value of Eighty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (N87,210,000.00) Only.
One hundred and forty eight (148) different Seizures of General Merchandise comprising new & used textile materials, new & used foot wears, mosquito insecticide, spaghetti noodles, various soap & detergent, used tyres, narcotics, compressors, hard drugs, Indian hemp etc with Duty Paid Value of Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Naira (N397,263,240.00) Only.
Comparing its activities in the period under review with corresponding period of 2015, the unit recorded six hundred and twenty eight (628) different Seizures with a Duty Paid Value of four hundred and twenty eight million, six hundred and sixty four thousand, four hundred and four naira (N428,664,404.00) only.
While the number of Seizures for 2015 appeared higher, the quality of Seizures for first quarter of 2016 led to the wide gap in Duty Paid Value.
Further, the Comptroller General noted that the items were seized in line with sections 46 & 47 of the Customs & Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004; which are on “FORFEITURE OF GOODS IMPROPERLY IMPORTED” AS WELL AS “PENALTY FOR IMPROPER IMPORTATION OF GOODS ETC”, WITH ATTENDANT PENALTIES.
He stated in his comparative report of corresponding period, the Unit intercepted six hundred and twenty eight (628) different Seizures with a Duty Paid Value of four hundred and twenty eight million, six hundred and sixty four thousand, four hundred and four naira (N428,664,404.00) only. It is obvious that the quality of Seizures for the period 2016 is far higher than the corresponding period of 2015. “This is an eloquent testimony to the fact that we are principally concerned about quality Seizures as against inconsequential ones” he disclosed further that “despite the harsh economic realities, the Unit was still able to demonstrate capacity in actualizing the set objectives of the Service, particularly in enforcing the fiscal policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
Looking at the operational challenges of the Unit during the period, the Controller noted that the successes recorded in this first quarter came as a result of the painstaking effort of the operatives even as he lamented that smugglers are becoming more daring by the day and in most cases displaying uncommon courage and tenacity in challenging operatives.
“This hostile approach is actually quite expected because of the growing desperation among smuggling kingpins to thwart the efforts of our operatives, using all available means, both conventional and unconventional methods. The Unit has remained undeterred and unshaken even in the face of this aggressiveness on the part of these smugglers and their collaborations,” he said.
“Beyond the issue of hostility, is the challenges of ignorance by most community dwellers – inhabitants of these areas, who are mostly crossers in local parlance, feign ignorance of the extant laws on import and export. And this is why they engage in these nefarious activities, clearly ignorant of its socio-economic implications to the Nation’s economy and even to their wellbeing,” he added.
Describing smuggling as a global menace and countries all over the world are constantly strategizing on how to suppress it in their domain, the using various methods.
In view of this, he said the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, have keyed into the various strategies, including the use of ICT in gathering intelligence amongst others. The Controller expressed his deep appreciation for the immeasurable and unflinching support from the top echelon of the Service, personified by the Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali and his able lieutenants which have led to remarkable results. The Service believes that the fight against smuggling cannot be undertaken by the Customs alone, hence our call on Nigerians to partner with 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 become satisfied that we have completely suppressed smuggling in our clime.
