Customs Strike Force seizes 14 live cartridges, pump action rifle, contraband worth N390.2million

Customs Strike Force seizes 14 live cartridges, pump action rifle, contraband worth N390.2million

* Rakes in N748.7million revenue from underpayment recovery

The operatives of Customs Strike Force in Zone ‘A’, Lagos, have again demonstrated doggedness and a high sense of patriotism in protecting the nation’s economy against smugglers, as they seized 14 live cartridges, one pump action rifle and one locally fabricated pistol through timely use of credible intelligence.

The Strike Force team also intercepted 3,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 1500 bags of foreign parboiled rice; 839 bales of Used Clothes; 900 bags of cement used to conceal rice; 1,670 mumrite tomato Paste; smuggled vehicles and other prohibited items worth over
N390,198,000, approximately N390.2million in Duty Paid Value (DPV)

The Coordinator of Customs Strike Force, DC Mohammed Sani Yusuf, showcased the seized items before Journalists during press briefing today.

He said :  “Foreign tomato paste; used clothes; importation of vehicles through the land borders; used tyres; arms and ammunition without end-user certificates among others, are all import prohibitions threatening our collective economy.

“Illicit goods imported into the country with their effects mostly end up either in our homes or in the neighbourhood; causing a wide range of issues ranging from social to psychological crises”.

Speaking further, he disclosed that his team collected N748,679,337 (approximately N748.7million) revenue for the Federal Government from underpayment recovery.

According to him, the revenue was realised from thorough documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignments found to have been short-paid.

He said :  “In continuation to suppressing smuggling and preventing revenue losses within the Southwest region, officers and men of the Strike Force Team in Zone ‘A’ remained resolute in enforcing Customs extant laws. In enforcing these laws, recalcitrant importers and traders are either made to pay the maximum duty payable through issuance of demand notices; or made to forfeit their goods to the Federal Government.”

He went on :  “Our efforts at ensuring that the local industries are protected from unhealthy foreign competition and other forms of social security require strong partnership between our operatives and members of the public in areas of information sharing and moral support.

“It is sad to note that some Nigerians would pay all duties and levies payable to the Customs authorities of other countries they import from, while on the other hand, they make conscious efforts to evade such payments into the federal coffers.

“As we are in the last quarter of the year; approaching the yuletide period, where recalcitrant traders and importers quest to make more profits through smuggling is at its peak. I would use this opportunity to appeal to importers and agents to be patriotic by making sincere declarations and pay their duties accurately.

“Let me use this medium to warn none compliant traders to desist from such; because we have strategically mobilised and deployed our personnel to do the needful.  I wish to reiterate at this point that, unpatriotic importers culpable shall be dealt with in accordance with the dictates of the law”.