*Comptroller hails officers, excited by Intel gathering
*Expired cigarettes, among items seized
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
In an unprecedented move, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B Kaduna, has seized items worth over one billion Naira between May and July 2023.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday July 21, signed by Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs,
Isah Sulaiman on behalf of the Comptroller.”Gentlemen of the media, the Comptroller Federal Operations Unit, Zone B Kaduna, Comptroller Musa Ibrahim Jalo is delighted to avail you with the scorecard of the Unit’s activities from May to July 2023.
“As you all are aware, our primary assignment is that of suppression of smuggling and anti-economic activities by undesirable elements in all its ramifications. “Recall that upon his resumption of duty here at the FOU Zone B on 27 January 2023, Comptroller Jalo said that he will work not only to build on the strategies he was inheriting from his predecessor, the amiable ACG Albashir Hamisu but to continue to dialogue and where necessary continue to strengthen the pillars of the unit’s operations.
“Further recall that he tasked the Officers and Men of the Unit to redouble their efforts to sustain the traction. I am particularly happy to inform you that between the Month of May and July this year, the Unit under Comptroller Jalo recorded a total of One Hundred and Seventy Nine (179) seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, Forty Four Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Naira, Eighty Kobo (N1,044,772,159.80K),” the statement said.
It explained that the assortments of items which were arrested in different locations within the Zone were mainly intelligence driven, plus the due vigilance and diligence of Officers and Men of the Unit. “Of particular note, is the seizure of illicit substances like Cannabis Sativa jointly arrested with Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) in Kebbi, vehicles, smuggled foreign parboiled rice and Second hand clothing, foreign soaps, vegetable oil and pastas, among others.
“The Officers and Men who have remained focused are presently also in sync with the current work agenda and orientation of the new administration ably led by the Ag. Comptroller -General of Customs, Bashir Wale Adeniyi MFR,” it said.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures for the period under review, the statement listed,
21 Units of Used Vehicles, 11 Units of Vehicles (Means of Conveyance) 2,234 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50Kg each) and 48 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (25Kg each).
Also listed, were, 226 Jerrycans of Foreign Refined Vegetable Oil (25litres each),
2,780 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti, Macaroni and Couscous, 278 Bales of Foreign Second Hand Clothing, 15 Sacks of Foreign Second Hand Shoes and 140 Cartons of Foreign Tin Tomato Paste.
Other items in the statement, include, Foreign Pomade,
Foreign Milky Creamer, Foreign Green Tea, Foreign MIlk, 149 Cartons of Foreign Fruit Juice, Foreign Soap, Foreign Matches, 140 Jerrycans of Automotive Gas Oil (25litres each) and 1,000 Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (25litres each).
Also seized, were,
Foreign Used Tyres, Foreign Eclairs Sweets, Foreign Shisha (Tobacco), Foreign Expired Cigarette, Foreign Vitamin D3 Supplements, Foreign Charcoal Briskets, Foreign LPG Cylinders (100Kg each), Foreign Tiger Nut (100Kg each), Foreign Used Belts and 81 Parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana).
It explained that given the aforementioned seized items which are largely prohibited, the comptroller said,
“l like to use this medium to appeal to the perpetrators to desist and engage in legitimate trade because this Unit has no plans to negotiate our extant laws.“We will continue to confront all acts of smuggling and to crush every obstacle on the way with all lawful force, therefore l advise Nigerians to take advantage of the renewed hope agenda of the new administration and the commitment of our CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, to raise the scale of trade facilitation through improved compliance and continuous partnership and engagement.
“In line with the standard operating procedure (SOP) guiding the operations of sister agencies, the Unit has handed over seized items outside its primary purview to relevant agencies.
“We have enjoyed their unwavering corporation and support and solicit for more collaboration, including your good selves, our revered gentlemen of the forth estate of the realm, for showcasing our activities even as we look forward for more of your objective reportage.”
