N281.3M worth of goods seized by Customs in S/East, S/south

0
611

N281.3M worth of goods seized by Customs in S/East, S/south
 By; VICTOR DURUAMAKU, Owerri.

The Nigerian Custom and Excise recently seized contraband goods worth N281.3m in the South East, South South geo-political zones.
This feat was recorded by the anti smuggling unit of the Customs Services in the two geopolitical zones; Zone “C” Owerri. Already, 32 suspects had been arrested in connection with shady business deals while 21 cases are now pending in court.
The unit Area Comptroller, Mr. Victor Dimka disclosed this at a press briefing shortly after inspecting the items deposited at the premises of the NCS in Owerri and Benin. He explained that the seizures which were made between September 30 and November 9, 2015 on the Aba/Port Harcourt Road and Owerri axis was as a result of a renewed vigour of the establishment to rid the nation of all manner of smuggling of illegal goods.
He listed the items to include 325 bales of second-hand clothing with a DPV of N41,570,000; 526 pieces of foreign used tyres of a DPV of N3,156,000; 100 cartons of rubber slippers which had a DPV of N41,320,000 and three vehicles with a DPV of N5,659,125 which were all recorded within the Owerri axis.
Additionally, the Customs Area Comptroller said that a total of 46 vehicles with a DPV of N222,287,855; three vehicles with a DPV of N3,517,842 and 40 bags of 50kg rice with a DPV of N748,000 were made in Benin, Calabar and Enugu accordingly.
He explained that the latest feat was accomplished by the combined efforts of officers and men of the unit who he said are strongly determined to see that smugglers, their sponsors and collaborators are apprehended and brought to book.
Dimka who decried the persistent scourge of smuggling of banned goods in the country despite severe penalties for those involved, said “we are painstakingly doing our investigation and we will definitely get to the root of these cases and bring all involved to book, while those in court would answer for what they had done.”
Dimka made it clear that the current Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali Ibrahim (rtd) has zero tolerance for corruption and is resolved to ensure that maximum revenue is collected for the nation.
He assured that the NCS would continue to strengthen its collaboration with sister agencies including the Army, Navy, police, DSS and Federal Road Safety until the battle against smuggling is won.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here