By Chinonye Anyatonwu.
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ intercepted 42 drums of explosives and various contraband items with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N3.1billion.
While still searching for possible seizures, the unrelenting enforcement operatives as a proof of seizures made, arrested 9 suspects in connection with the contraband goods.
According to information gathered, two of the suspects who were among the nine have already been charged to Court for onward prosecution.
The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), of the Unit, Comptroller Usman Yahaya, who made this statement at a press conference in Lagos, disclosed that. “The task before us is quite enormous.
The CAC explained that, “In the area of interventions regarding Demand Notices arising from under-payments, the Unit realised N242,251,506.00 during the period under review.
He said between the month of February 9, 2021, till date, several seizures were made including 80 means of conveyance, adding that it is simply a pointer to the fact that smugglers are unrelenting and adamant at complying with the extant laws on international trade.
He stressed that, “It is imperative to note that importation of items such as foreign poultry products, second hand clothing, spaghetti, toothpick, used vehicles and rice across the land borders remains banned.
Yahaya said, “Within the period under review, the Unit recorded the following seizures which includes; 20,538 bags of foreign rice, 3,106 cartons of frozen poultry products, 1,488 kegs of petrol at 25 litres each, 1,035 bales of second hand clothing, 77 cartons of tin tomato, 2,843.6kg of Indian Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 877 bundles of printed wax/textile materials, 29 different brands of used vehicles.
Others include; 2,969 cartons of Eva soap, 42 drums of carbide (explosives), 549 cartons of Tramadol and 12 units of used motorcycles with DPV of N 3.1 billion,” he said.
However, he cited that “Section 158 of Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004, as amended, has given us powers to patrol and search everywhere without restrictions. Section 147 of the same CEMA empowers us to enter into any premises without search warrant, provided there is credible information on prohibited items deposited therein for us to strike
He pointed out that the FOU zone ‘A’ have the power to seize and prosecute offenders which is also embedded in Sections 46 and 47 respectively, maintaining that it is instructive to know that offenders are liable to prosecution without option of fine,” he said.
Yahaya frowned at nefarious activities of smugglers in the country and implications on the nation’s economy.
He said, “Everyone should be worried about smuggling because it begets unemployment, drug addiction, criminality, proliferation of light/small arms and substandard goods.” Just like crime fighting, which is the responsibility of everyone and not only security agents, the same applies to smuggling.
In his words: “We need your continuous cooperation by providing credible information to hold sway in the fight against smuggling.
You can imagine what would have happened if 42 drums of Carbide (explosives) had entered into the wrong hands.
