The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team has alarmed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) steal items from the examination bay in the name of sampling, leading to a loss of millions by both the freight forwarders and importers.
It therefore warned the companies to stop this the act of stealing forthwith, adding that it has resolved to nip in the bud the rampant stealing henceforth report perpetrators to the Port Police.
The Team in a letter to the two associations signed by its National Coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Tanko, said importers and freight forwarders /clearing agents have been losing millions of Naira as a result of this corruption.
The letter read: “We write to notify you of our resolve to put a stop to the rampant stealing of items from containers during customs examination in the name of SAMPLING.
We note with displeasure the loss of millions Naira following complaints from our members and importers as a result of sampling.
“We cannot cope with the disdain with which our clients tar us with the brush of thieves for the missing items in their boxes.
“Statutorily, NAFDAC and STANDARD ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA are allowed to collect samples, and with signed SAMPLING FORMS.
This office will henceforth resist the illegal sampling practices and report the perpetrators to the Port Police.”