THE Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “A”, the anti-
smuggling unit of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS,
raked in over N229 million between June 13 and July 10,
2017.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, controller of the
zone, Mohammed Garba, said it impounded various
contraband goods with Duty Paid Value, DPV, worth
N200,995,641.8 within the period. He also said the Unit,
through its intervention, recovered N28,954,448 from duty
payments and demand notices on general goods at
seaports, airports and border stations, bringing the total
amount the Zone raised to N229, 950, 089.8 within the
period.
Garba disclosed that 15 suspects have been arrested in
connection with the seizures, noting that 40 different
seizures were recorded comprising vegetable oil, foreign
parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled
vehicles, medicaments, used tyres and various general
merchandise.
He said, “The fight against smuggling can only be won if
all hands are on deck. The commitment, doggedness,
resilience and diligence of officers and men of the Unit
for foiling the antics of smugglers who used different
methods for concealment, cannot be over emphasized.
“Following series of infractions on some of the
containers intercepted based on information; we have
seized seven containers that contravened Customs law by
means of false declaration and breach of import
prohibition list by trade. While three of the containers
carried 5,014 pieces of used tyres, used fridges, used
double electric burner, the other containers carried 499
cartons of Eva soap as against poultry incubator declared
in the SGD.”
