The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it arrested 20 suspected smugglers including a fake Customs officer, Mr Benson Otu.
Addressing reporters in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller Kola Oladeji also announced the seizure of N2,262,849,547 contraband from various spots across Ogun, Ondo and some other southwest states.
According to Oladeji, “Within the last month of my being here, I have done a rejig to raise our level of efficiency to tighten the noose against smugglers in the South West. Our reinvigorated intelligence-backed patrols are better stationed with high morale monitoring movements at the borders and all highways under our areas of responsibility.
“It is pertinent to reiterate that our consistent engagement with stakeholders and critical partners of officers from other services is in line with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
“In line with the Comptroller-General’s mission of collaboration with critical stakeholders. I want to commend the commitment of the Army, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security Services, members of the Association of Nigerian Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), traditional rulers and patriotic citizens for cooperating with the Service and supporting the Unit in the fight against smuggling.’’
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“As I said on the day I assumed office, we are here to support genuine businessmen and women by helping to facilitate their trades and contributing to their efforts which is adding value to our economy. Law-abiding business people have no reason to fear or worry because of our presence on the highways.
203 seizures, Koladr said, were made worth a cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of N2,262,849,547 while 20 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seized goods. The following are some of the wares seized within the period under review;
“914 Jerry cans X 25 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) equivalent to 22,850 litres; 10,372 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice; 27 units of imported used vehicles; 2,152 cartons of foreign frozen products; 6 units of imported used trucks; 625kg of Cannabis sativa;
The sum of N81, 813,612.81, he said, was recovered through meticulous documentary checks on goods already exited with low duty payments, which would have escaped the coffers of the Federal Government Account.
“This is just the beginning of tougher days for smugglers who try to defy our laws by bringing prohibited items into the country or attempting to underpay duty to the government thereby undermining Nigeria Customs Service’s drive for maximum revenue collection.
“This Unit also arrested a self-acclaimed Customs officer; who until his arrest had defrauded some of his unsuspecting victims. The suspect, Mr Benson Otu, claimed to be the officer in charge of rice auctioning. His arrest was made after some of his victims reported his illegal claims and activities.
“Let me restate that we shall be unrelenting in effecting seizures of wares from smugglers and arresting suspects for prosecution under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. Showing these seizures is intended to discourage people from smuggling and similar crimes.”