By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
No fewer than nine suspected smugglers were arrested and contraband valued at N1.2 billion Intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit, Zone “A” Lagos in the month of October 2023 from the South West axis of the country.
The seized goods include 14, 825 litres of Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS), 5,033 pieces of hide and skin concealed in 730 sack in 40 feet container, 7,382 bags of parboiled rice 50kg each, loaded in 14 trucks.
The Controller in charge of the unit, Hussein Ejibunu who made the disclosure, also listed other seizures as 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202 kilogrammes ) parcels of Indoan hemp, 39 bales of second hand clothes, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, four units of used motorcycles and 600 cartons of GIV soap.
Ejibunu added that in its quest to prevent revenue loss through various infractions such as under valuation , under payment and wrong classification, the sum of N115.4 million were recovered through the issuance of of demand notices to defaulters.
His words, “I want to state that this unit of the service under my watch will make the remaining part of 2023 and beyond tough for smugglers in the interest of our country.
“We are ready to intercept them and frustrate their antics of concealment, illegal route passage, false declaration band under declaration”.
He noted that the unit is determined to implement all provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act2023 including various penalties attached to offences while striving to ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the laws.
The Controller appealed to all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to support the unit with credible informations that will assist in batting economic sabotage.
Ejibunu equally urged the media to always support the service by using their position to discourage smuggling and any act that contravenes the customs law.
