Customs FOU ‘A’ Intercepts 15 Imported Vehicles, Others Worth ₦8 Billion In July

Nigeria Customs, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, intercepts 15 imported vehicles, others worth ₦8b In July.

Says it is taking more proactive measures to combat smuggling with increased vigour as the Ember months approach.

Generated N133m through documentary checks/issuance of Demand Notices on underpaid consignments.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, says it made a total of 70 seizures valued at over ₦8 Billion (₦8,098,001,199) in July 2024.

Comptroller of the unit, Kola Oladeji, disclosed this to journalists in Ikeja on Friday, 30 July 2024. He noted that the anti-smuggling operations of the unit resulted in the arrest of 14 male suspects.

Notable among the seizures are 15 imported vehicles and 11,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit. Others are 6,168 pieces of donkey skin; 37,630 sachets of Tramadol; 11,820 new machetes and 4,740 bags of foreign parboiled rice.

Comptroller Oladeji emphasised that the unit is taking more proactive measures to combat smuggling with increased vigour as the Ember months approach.

“Our intelligence and the past behaviour of smugglers suggest the likelihood of heightened desperation to smuggle. Consequently, we are intensifying our efforts in line with the directives of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.”

“I can confidently state that our resistance to smugglers’ desperation is effective, leading to the seizure of their goods and the arrest of suspects. We will remain relentless and uncompromising in this regard.”

Regarding revenue recovery, the unit head stated that N133,696,223.98 was generated through documentary checks and the issuance of Demand Notices on consignments that were found to have been underpaid.

“The entire amount has been paid into the Federation account accordingly.”

Comptroller Oladeji was firm in his statement that smugglers of petroleum products and illicit drugs now face significant challenges from his officers.

“While the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the availability of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, for Nigerians, some smugglers are determined to export the products for their personal gain. To be clear, this category of smugglers will have us to contend with.”

He urged Nigerians to avoid smuggling and not to be lured into crime by the pursuit of wealth. He also called on traders and Customs clearing agents to be honest in their declarations and ensure that duty payments are made to avoid the consequences of alternative actions.

• See Also : Customs FOU ‘A’ Intercepts 1,500 Bulletproof Jackets, 32 Tokunbo Cars, Others Worth N3.6B In June