The Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ Kaduna has disclosed that it recorded a total of 98 seizures of 21 different items in a period of 11 days.
The Zone disclosed this when giving an update on the activities of the unit from 17 February to 28 March 2024, saying within the period the items seized included contraband foreign parboiled rice, used foreign shoes, petroleum products, vehicles, pasta among others.
While briefing journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, the FOU Zone ‘B’ Comptroller, Comptroller Dalha Wada Chedi said the Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these items” is Seven Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seven Naira and Forty-Six Kobo (N769, 465,907.46) only.”
He said their operatives had remained resolute, committed and vigilant in the fight against smuggling.
He said of particular note was the seizure of 372 bags of offensive rice that were intercepted by operatives of the Unit and deposited at the Kwara Area Command.
“Our eagle eye Officers and Men are constantly responding to the ever new changing tactics of smugglers, who deploys ever new methods in concealing smuggled rice in local flour sacks to disguise the smuggled rice as flour.
“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 trick, blackmail or orchestrated attacks that will dampen our resolve,” he said.
According to the Comptroller, the die hard smugglers that sponsored mobs to attack their operatives and/or organize to stage illegal demonstrations against them, cannot and will not discourage and deter them from carrying out their job.
”It is one of 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,” he said.
“The summary of items for the period under review are as follows: 698 bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50kg each) 367 Cartons Foreign Spaghetti, Macaroni, Couscous,136 Bales Foreign Secondhand clothing,715 Jerry cans of Premium motor Spirit (25 Litres each),65 Jerry cans of Foreign Refined Vegetable Oil (25 Litres each),12 Unit Used Vehicles,4 Units Means of Conveyance,9 Cartons Chakapain Xtra (50mg),425.5 Cartons Foreign Milky Creamer & Milk Powder and 136 pieces Foreign used Tyres.
“Other items include: 14 Bags of Foreign Tiger Nuts,151 Cartons of unregistered Alcoholic Beverages,1314 sachets and 68 Cartons of Foreign Butter,40 Cartons of Expired Foreign General Goods,120 Cartons of Foreign Eva soap.
Other items are: “170 bags of sodium sulphate (25Kg each),20 cartons of Foreign Dye Powder,600 bags of Sokoto cement used in concealing items O, P, & Q 379 assorted general goods intercepted at Daura for being improperly exported and 400 cartons of unregistered Organic Fertilizer.”
He said the Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these items is Seven Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seven Naira and Forty-Six Kobo (N769, 465,907.46) only.
“Let me use this opportunity to draw the attention of the general public concerning the act of altering VIN (Chassis Number) of Vehicles by smugglers to evade arrest or to manipulate the payment of duty. I want the concerned citizens to always examine the VIN on the windscreen and that on the chassis (skeleton) of the vehicle they intend buying because it is an offence under S.236 (b) of the 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 NCS 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 general public to utilize the 90-days window to regularize 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,” he said.
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