Customs in Kaduna strikes again, seizes expired goods, items worth over N769.5million

Customs in Kaduna strikes again, seizes expired goods, items worth over N769.5million
…As Compt Wada gives smugglers  tough time

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone B Kaduna, is giving economic saboteurs a tough time, as the Unit seized expired goods and other prohibited items smuggled into the country through the back-door.

The items seized from February 17, 2024, to March 28, 2024, have a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N769, 465,907.46 (approximately N769.5million).

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Unit, Compt DALHA WADA CHEDI, disclosed this information during press conference in Kaduna.

Wada, who is carrying out anti-smuggling operations doggedly in Zone B,  said his operatives are fearless, tenacious, resolute, committed and vigilant in the fight against smuggling.

His assertions : “It is also noteworthy that we combine effective intelligence network in combating and exposing these rice smugglers. I said earlier that we remain resolute and will not relent, as there is no amount of blackmail or orchestrated attacks that will dampen our resolve.

“To those die-hard smugglers who sponsored mobs to attack our operatives and organised to stage illegal demonstration against us, they cannot and will not discourage and deter us from carrying out our duties. It is one of these two options, either these smugglers turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate trade, or have us to deal with and face the wrath of the law and the full consequences.”

According to him; “Within the period under review, we recorded a total of 98 seizures of 21 different items, which included foreign parboiled rice, used shoes, petroleum products, vehicles (means of conveyance), pastas among others.

“Of particular note was the seizure of 372 bags of offensive rice intercepted by operatives of the Unit and deposited at Kwara Area Command. Our Eagle-eyed Officers and Men are constantly responding to the ever changing tactics of smugglers, who deploy new methods in concealing smuggled rice in local flour sacks, to disguise the smuggled rice as flour.”

He went on : “The summary of items seized for the period under review are as follows: 698 bags of Foreign Rice (50kg each); 367 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti, Macaroni; Couscous
136 Bales of secondhand clothings; 715 Jerrycans of Premium motor Spirit (25 Litres each);
65 Jerrycans of Vegetable Oil (25 Litres each); 12 Unit Used Vehicles; four Means of Conveyance: cartons of foreign Milky Creamer & Milk Powder; and 136 used tyres.

Other items are bags of Foreign Tiger Nuts; 151 Cartons of unregistered Alcoholic Beverages; 1314 sachets and 68 Cartons of Foreign Butter; 40 Cartons of expired goods; 120 Cartons of Foreign Eva soap.
Others are 170 bags of sodium sulphate (25Kg each); 20 cartons of Foreign Dye Powder; 600 bags of cement used in concealing smuggled items; 379 assorted general goods intercepted at Daura for being improperly exported. 400 cartons of unregistered Organic Fertilizer”.

The Area Controller added : “Let me use this opportunity to draw the attention of the public concerning the act of altering VIN (Chassis Number) of Vehicles by smugglers to evade arrest or to manipulate payment of duty. I want concerned citizens to always examine the VIN on the windscreen and the chassis (skeleton) of the vehicle they intend buying, because it is an offence under Section.236 (b) of NCS Act 23 and the offender is liable to a fine of N2, 000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of two years, or both.

“At this point, as Nigerians we must join in thanking the leadership and management of the Service for graciously tampering justice with mercy, so as to provide safe landing for those Nigerians found to have acted in breach of the Customs extant laws, in relation to the directive of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on the recent 90-days window granted to vehicle owners to perfect their duty documentation.

“I call on the public to utilise the 90-days window to regularise their improperly imported vehicles, especially in view of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fatherly disposition in the light of the current general hardship for which he magnanimously suspended the 25% penalty previously imposed, in addition to import duty on improperly imported vehicles; to make it more accessible to the citizens.

“Let me also use this medium to specially thank our amiable Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and his management team for their usual support and encouragement to Officers and Men of the Unit and the Service in general”