The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A has intercepted 13 trailer loads of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 17 vehicles and other items smuggled via the southwest region of the country worth N1.24 billion in October, 2023.
Other items intercepted from smugglers include: 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, four 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.
The acting Comptroller of the Unit, Hussein Ejibunu, while displaying the seized items to journalists, yesterday, at the Customs warehouse in Ikeja, said smugglers have taken to the antics of concealment, illegal route passage, false declaration and under declaration to evade duty payment.
He said intelligence reports gathered over the years indicated a higher degree of desperation by economic saboteurs to smuggle during the Yuletide periods.
Ejibunu noted that rice has been a recurring commodity on Customs’ list of seizures across various borders in the southwest zone.
He said due to the volatility of the PMS product, the service has safely disposed of them in line with laid down due process. Ejibunu said in the Customs unit’s continuous quest to prevent revenue loss through various infractions such as under-valuation, under-payments, and wrong classification, N115.5 million was collected following the issuance of demand notices to defaulters.
“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 stated.
He appealed to all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to support the Unit with credible information that will assist in battling economic sabotage.
Ejibunu also urged members of the press to always support the unit by using their position to discourage smuggling and any act that contravenes the customs law.
