Yuletide : Customs FOU Zone ‘A’ intensifies anti-smuggling onslaught :

Yuletide :  Customs FOU Zone ‘A’ intensifies anti-smuggling onslaught 
…Seizes 15 trailer loads of rice, items worth N1bn in one month

As Nigerians prepare for the yuletide season, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service, has intensified its anti-smuggling onslaught against the daredevil smugglers operating within South West States. Its modus operandi has yielded tremendous results, as the Unit seized smuggled items worth over N1billion in the month of November 2022, alone.

The Unit also arrested 14 suspects for different offences during the period under review. 13 suspects were released on administrative bail, while one is still in custody.

Prominent among the seizures were
8,999 bags of foreign rice (50kg each), approximately 15 trailer loads;
85,300 litres of PMS; 812 used tyres; 1 x 40 FT Container STC Charcoal; 2 x 20 FT Containers containing 4,004 cartons of Tomato Paste and five units of used vehicles (Tokunbo).

Others include 40 cartons of 4 &5 litres of vegetable oil; 128 parcels of Indian Hemp; 13 cartons of knock-out; 243 bales of used clothes; 2,976 cartons of new shoes and 37 cartons of poultry products.

In the same vein, the Unit generated N43.5million revenue for the Federal Government during the period under review.

Speaking while unveiling the seizures, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Compt Hussein Ejibunu, pointed out; “We were able to achieve collection of N43,530,867.25million through issuance of uncompromising demand notices (DNs) to collect detected and identified shortfalls in duty payments.”

The CAC continued :  “It is worthy of emphasis that the collected revenue would have been lost through different modes of duty evasion, such as undervaluation, under-declaration, application of wrong Harmonized System (HS) codes and false declarations, but for our meticulous oversight and prevention as a layer of checks.”

His assertions; “As the year draws to a close, let me reiterate our warning to smugglers, intending smugglers and their collaborators; that FOU Zone A, would watch, remain active and vigilant at all times.

“We shall vigorously go after them wherever they travel through, or store smuggled items. Even if the smuggled goods are stored in their bedrooms, we shall lawfully swoop on them. It is an on-going battle that we shall not relent on”.

Compt Ejibunu roared ; “Without mincing words, I dare say that smugglers would be confronted with the worst Christmas in their life of crime, this December. Not only are we going to seize their wares, we are also determined to arrest them for prosecution”.

He emphasised;  “As I have always said, with the logistics support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Hameed Ali, CFR, and his management team, the patrol vehicles received and other operational support provisions made by the CGC are highly motivating and they played contributory roles in the seizures we made.

“Typical of lawless smugglers and enemies of our national economy, their expected desperation exhibited towards the end of the year has reared its ugly head. Ahead of the yuletide season, Federal Operations Unit in Zone ‘A’ has recharged its all round the clock operations across all South West States of the country, lawfully confronting smugglers and duty evaders as provided for in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).”