ABUJA: The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), has arrested 18 alleged smugglers and impounded 36 vehicles in zone C Owerri. The impounded vehicles are 13 cars, 14 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV), five trucks and four buses, the Area Controller of the unit, Dimka Victor David told.
He said the seizures were made in January, this year, adding that other items were 636 cartons of imported frozen poultry products, 800 bags of cement, 800 pieces of used types, 2155 cartons of foreign soap and creams.
Also seized within the period were 274 bales of second hand clothing and stockings as well as 17 pieces of Tarpaulin, 12 pieces of PVC rubber carpet and 51 bags of 50 kg foreign rice.
Giving a break down of the impounded items, Dimka commended members of the public who according to him have “courageously and patriotically” supplied the unit with relevant information bordering on smuggling.
He assured members of the public that classified information would never be divulged in line with the ethics of the profession.
“Explaining further, Dimka said: “We have been trained, oriented and conscientized under the management of the CGC to meet our challenges and it is left for those still entrapped in smuggling to desist forthwith or be prepared to face the consequences of their act if arrested.”
Dimka advised members of the public who wish to purchase vehicles to ensure that they go through the official channels and to always clear with the customs before investing their money, warning that all illegally imported goods must be impounded as ignorance of the Law is no excuse.
The Area Controller attributed the increase to series of innovations put in place by the management of NCS under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Abdullahi Dikko inde, “which has in no small measure drastically reduce smuggling to the barest minimum.”
Dimka in a statement issued by CPRO FOU Zone C, Owerri, Onuigbo Ifeoma, also commended sister agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the State Security Services, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agencies and Media organizations for “their continued corporation in this fight against the nefarious act of smuggling”.
The zone had for the year ended December 2014, recorded 363 seizures of illegally imported items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.80 billion and recovered an under payment of N71.76 million.
Giving details of the 2014 performance, Dimka explained that the unit made 104 arrests in 2014 and had 134 cases pending in court with four conviction as against 31 arrests recorded in 2013 with 20 cases in court.
Dimka said the high number of seizures was recorded in April, September and December 2014, while high DPV were made in April and September.
Dimka also appealed to Nigerians to volunteer relevant information to the unit, pointing out that identity of such informants would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
