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Customs in FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri makes N1.3 bn seizures

5,200 live ammunition, bullet proof car, foreign rice among seizures

(Report by Udeme Clement):

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), of Federal Operations Unit FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Comptroller YUSUF LAWAL Psc(+), and his team have recorded massive seizures worth over N1.2billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV).

Also, the Unit through its intervention recovered over N7.5million from demand notices raised, making a cumulative sum of N1,288,442,742.00 (approximately N1.3 billion).

Items seized by the Unit include 5,200 live ammunition/cartridges; six exotic vehicles; one Toyota land cruiser bullet proof 2019 model- without End User Certificate from National Security Adviser; one Toyota Hilux 2020 model; one Toyota Corolla 2018 model; 2,976 bags of foreign rice, 1,024 cartons of Colcaps medicament without NAFDAC certification; 290 cartons of Foreign Eva Soap; 204 Cartons of Foreign tomato paste; 130 jumbo bales of used clothing, among others.

Addressing Journalists yesterday, Comptroller LAWAL, said that the prohibited items were seized in the first quarter, from January to March, 2021.

His words :
“Following our anti-smuggling drive, we have intercepted various contraband within our areas of jurisdiction which covers South-South, South-East zones, as shown with the figures above.

This feat would not have been possible without logistics support from the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Hameed Ibrahim Ali and the entire Management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Let me use this opportunity to also appreciate the media for continuous rapport, while seeking for fair and balanced reportage of our activities.

“I urge all well-meaning Nigerians to support the Service in the fight against smuggling by providing credible and timely intelligence that will help the Unit to reduce smuggling to its barest minimum, as we hope to improve more in the second quarter by intensifying our surveillance”.

SUMMARY OF DETENTION/SEIZURES AND DPV
Below is the summary of items seized:

Foreign Rice – 2,976 bags, with
N104,160,000.00 DPV.
Used clothing- 130 Jumbo Bales, with N15,600,000.00 DPV. Pharmaceutical Products without NAFDAC NO – 1,024 cartons of Colcaps.
Eight cartons of other medicaments, with N918,032,731.00 DPV.
Foreign Eva Soap – 290 cartons, with N4,176,000.00 DPV. Tomato paste – 204 cartons, with N5,300,000.00 DPV.
LIVE AMMUNITION- 5,200 CARTRIDGES, with N3,120,000.00 DPV.
Vehicles – six units, with N230,496,280.00 DPV. Total DPV is N1,280,885,011.00.
DN raised – N 7,557,731.
The sum total is N1,288,442,742.00 (that is approximately N1.3 billion).