Customs seizes contrabands worth over N50m

THE Nigeria Customs Service has impounded five vehicles with contraband items valued at N50, 237, 400.

The Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “D” comprising of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa States, Peters Olugboyega, disclosed this at a Media briefing at the Zonal headquarters in Bauchi.

He said that the excise were based on credible intelligence gathered, officers of the Service on patrol between August 31st and September 3rd explaining that on 2nd September 2018, one DAF truck with Reg. No. XG 433 RSH was impounded along Potiskum – Gombe Road at about 7:15 am with 1, 963 cartons of Foreign Spaghetti Noodles and 780 Jerricans of Vegetable Oil.

Olugboyega that the smuggled items were in contravention of the Import Prohibition Order contrary to the provision of Sec 4 of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP. 45 of the Constitution 2004 as amended.

He said that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) on vehicle and goods is N32, 282, 000.

The Customs boss disclosed that a one Mercedes Benz 911 truck with Reg. No. XG 433 RSH was impounded on 1st September 2018 at about 7.49pm along Bauchi-Jos road with 300 bags of Foreign Rice concealed in BUA Sacks.

ALSO READ: I’ll report to IGP’s office by 12 Tuesday, Fani-Kayode reveals

He said that the goods were banned items which ought not to have been imported into the country since the Federal government has placed a ban on them and disclosed that the DPV on vehicle and goods is N9, 720, 000.

According to him, three J5 Buses with Reg. No. NSR 374 TRN, TRN 162 AU and JJN 108 XP carrying 90 bales of second-hand clothing, 30 bales in each bus and said that they were seized along Bauchi-Kano road at about 4.30am on 3rd September 2018.

He said the DPV on the vehicle and goods is N8, 235, 000.

The Comptroller while taking Journalists round the seized items and vehicles said that there is no reason why the contraband clothes should be brought into the country “because of the health implications.”

He warned smugglers to desist from their acts or they will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law disclosing that all the drivers of the vehicles have been arrested.

“We have 30 different strategies, this is just one of them. We will always go ahead of them. No matter their antics, we will crush them. If they are unrepentant, we are out for them. Any smuggler arrested will be prosecuted,” Olugboyega declared.

The Federal Comptroller thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali for the opportunity given him and his team to Carry out their constitutional mandate of stamping out smuggling in the country and assured that he and his team will not relent in that direction.