Fou Zone ‘C’ Owerri Customs impounds goods worth N591 million

The Nigerian Customs Service of the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Imo State has intercepted 22 cars and more than 350 bags of foreign rice with the estimated cost of Duty Paid Value (DPV) put at N591 million.

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The Area Comptroller of the Zone ‘C’ Mr. Kayode A. Olusemire announced this to newsmen while briefing journalists at the scene of the seized items in the Zone.

According to him, six suspects have been arrested in connection with the seized goods and they are helping them on their investigations and at the end of their interrogation, those who have cases to answer would be charged to court.

Answering questions from  reporters, the comptroller explained that out of the 22 impounded cars, 6  were armoured cars with the DPV ranging between N12 million to N80 million.

Mr. Olusemeri wondered why some Nigerians, who have the money to purchase these vehicles, could not provide money to pay the Duty Paid Value to the Federal Government.

He warned  that the Nigerian Customs Service would not rest on its oars to ensure total eradication of this ugly trend of economic saboteur being performed by unpatriotic Nigerians.

The comptroller advised foreign rice importers to take advantage of loans being provided by the Federal Government for those cultivating rice in the country than importing foreign rice into the country.

In the same vein, smuggled goods worth over N156, 615, 226. 00 have been seized by the Federal Operations Unit,  Zone D of the Nigerian Customs between January and December, 2018.

This was disclosed by the Zonal Comptroller, FOU, Zone “D,” Peters Olugboyega, during a media briefing at the Customs House on Thursday in Bauchi, stating that: “From January to December, 2018, the Unit has made seizures ranging from smuggled foreign rice, foreign soap, second hand clothing, Spaghetti and even hard drugs with total DPV (Duty Paid Value) of N156, 615, 226. 00 compared to N111, 699, 975.00 of the year 2017 despite low economic activities due to insurgency in Nigeria and dissidence in Cameroon.”

While speaking further on the recent seizures made by the Service, Peters Olugboyega said that on 21st November, 2018, the operatives of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘D’ Bauchi, while acting on credible information patrol, accosted one used Mercedes Benz truck with registration No. ABJ 250 XA, suspected to be carrying contraband that was involved in an accident near a military check point along Kano – Bauchi road.

He said the Operatives liaised with  military personnel to evacuate the suspected goods and towed the accident vehicle to the Customs House, Bauchi, disclosing that; “Upon physical examination, it was discovered to contain 179 bags of 50kg Foreign Rice classified under Chapter 1006 of Common External Tariff (CET) concealed in grain’s Jumbo Sacks with total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N6, 627, 000. 00 only.”

The operatives of the unit, according to him, on 30th November, 2018, made another seizure of 130 bags of foreign rice classified under Chapter 1006 of CET that was re-bagged in Nigerian Lake Rice sacks with total DPV of N1,872, 000.00.

He said that; “also, on the 24th November, 2018, the operatives of the unit made a seizure of 100 cartons of Eva soap classified under Chapter 3401 of CET with DPV of N1, 800, 000.00,” adding that the total DPV for the 3 seizures is N12,819,600.00.

Peters Olugboyega also said that on December 3rd 2018, the operatives of the Unit made another seizure of one used Citroen (J5) Bus with Registration No. KMC 855 XB conveying 100 bags of foreign rice classified under chapter 1006 of CET with the total DPV of N2,520,000.00.

The Comptroller said the action of the operatives was in line with the provisions of section 8 (officers to have powers of Police officers) and section 158 (power to patrol freely) of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap. C45 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.

He said that in view of the above indices, it shows that the officers/men of the unit are on high spirit in blocking and suppressing smuggling activities in the zone.