Yuletide: Customs intercepts 14,825 litres of PMS, rice, others worth N1.24bn
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), thr Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, intercepted Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), Rice and others worth N1.24 billion in October.
Acting Controller of the unit, Hussein Ejibunu, who disclosed this while speaking at a press briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Lagos said the smuggled rice is equivalent to almost 13 trailer loads.
Ejibunu added that the unit also seized a total of 17 vehicles and other smuggled items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.2billion within the month of October.
“Rice has been a recurring commodity in our list of seizures across various borders in the southwest zone. We were able to seize a total of 7,381 units of 50kg foreign parboiled rice from smugglers. This amounts to almost thirteen trailer loads of rice.
“A total of seventeen vehicles were also seized from smugglers who wanted to circumvent the law by evading duty payment. For the avoidance of doubts, let me state again that the ban on vehicle importation through land borders subsists,” he said.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Ejibunu said they include 593 jerrycans (14,825 litres) of premium motor spirit, 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202 kg) parcels of Indian hemp, 39 bales of second hand-clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, 4 units of used motorcycle, 600 cartons of GIV soap and 730 sacks of hide and skin hidden in a 1×40 container equivalent to 5,033 pieces.
He said 9 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggled items.
Ejibunu who attributed the increase in smuggling to desperation by smugglers during the Yuletide periods, however, assured of the unit’s unlenting resolve to protect the nation’s economy by enforcing its anti-smuggling laws in an
‘uncompromising manner’.
“Intelligence reports gathered over the years indicated a higher degree of desperation by economic saboteurs to smuggle during the yuletide periods.
“While noting this challenge, we have fully deployed the improved logistics supplied by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir A Adeniyi MFR; provided support for our officers with strategic manpower placements to achieve our ongoing drive to suppress smuggling.
“Our reviewed strategies have been paying off as reflected in the seizures recently made by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, for October. We shall sustain our efforts towards deploying these strategies continuously.
“Before reeling out the list of seizures which amounts to N1,241,777,700 in duty paid value, I want to state that this Unit of the Service under my watch will make the remaining part of 2023 and beyond tough for smugglers in the interest of our country.
“We are ready to intercept them and frustrate their antics of concealment, illegal route passage, false declaration and under declaration. In addition, we are also determined to implement all the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, including the various penalties attached to offences while striving to ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the laws,” he said.
Ejibunu added that the unit also collected the sum of N115,456,534.94 through issuance of demand notices from identified shortfalls in duty payment.
“Our officers also intercepted 593 jerrycans (14,825 litres) of premium motor spirit.
Because of the volatility of this product, we have safely disposed of them in line with laid down due process. Other seizures include 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202 kg) parcels of Indian hemp, 39 bales of second hand-clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, 4 units of used motorcycle, 600 cartons of GIV soap and 730 sacks of hide and skin hidden in a 1×40 container equivalent to 5,033 pieces,” he said.
Ejibunu appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the Unit with credible information that will assist in battling economic sabotage.
