… as Ag. CGC warns importers, agents on adherence to existing import, export guidelines
In its continued fight against smuggling and illicit trade, the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja, Lagos, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted eight trailers containing 7,029 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice.
The Command also seized various items in the same month with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted goods amounting to One Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-five Million, Eighty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety-eight Naira (1,755,080,898).
The Acting Comptroller General of Customs (Ag. CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, briefing the press on the seizure at the Command today, described the seizures as commendable, noting that agriculture, being the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, underscores the federal government’s commitment to achieving self-sustaining growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians.
In alignment with this commitment and the spirit of patriotism, he said the dedicated officers of the Command executed a series of operations resulting in the interception and seizure of these bags of foreign parboiled rice.
According to him, these decisive actions aimed at a two-fold purpose took place at various times and locations within the border corridors of the South-Western states.
“The objective was twofold: to discourage potential traders from engaging in smuggling activities and to inflict financial losses on active smugglers,” he said, adding that “beyond the parboiled rice seizures, our operations yielded significant results.”
Other seizures in the month of September, the Ag. CGC said include 35,100 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS), 1,100 liters of diesel, 40-foot container carrying 360 bales of used clothes, one 40-foot container containing 150 cartons of ladies’ handbags, 50 bales of nickers, and other falsely declared items.
Also impounded were 1120- coller of unprocessed wood, 106 cartons of foreign frozen poultry, 55 pieces of used fridges, 110 pieces of used compressors, 148 cartons of foreign soap, 121 cartons of expired hair oil, and 25 units of vehicles (tokunbo).
Adeniyi announced that investigations into some of these seizures were ongoing while 14 suspects have been apprehended in connection with various offenses, including violating import/export guidelines, concealment, undervaluation, wrong classification, smuggling, and contravening policy directives.
Furthermore, the Unit generated Seventy-two Million, Eight Hundred and Seven Thousand, Twenty-five Naira, Eleven Kobo (N72,807,025.11) in revenue through meticulous documentary checks and the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate customs duty.
The Ag. CGC seized the opportunity to urge importers and licensed agents to make sincere declarations, adhere to existing import and export guidelines, and avoid the risk of losing their investments.
“Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic choice that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of goods across our borders,” he stated.