By Chinonye Anyatonwu
The Coordinator of CGC Strike Force, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stated that his team has seized 1010 bags of parboiled foreign rice, Pangolin scales, other goods which Duty Paid Value (DPV) was put at N1.09bn.
He also said the sum of N537.9m was collected from importers who underpaid duties through the issuance of Demand Notice (DN) for the same period.
Briefing newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday,
Coordinator of the Strike Force Team, A. Mohammed Sani Yusuf, said that his team has so far generated the sum of N5.2bn as revenue since their resumption till date compared with last year revenue which was N3.5bn with difference of N1.6bn representing 32 percent increament through DN, underpayment and wrong classification.
However, the seizures displayed by the Team which were recorded between October and November this year worth a total duty paid value of N1,009 billion, adding that were 1010 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, 376.4kg of pangolin scales, 100 cartons of red wine, 40kg of Indian Hemp, 58 bales of used clothing, 35 units of 25 litres of jerry cans containing petrol are among other seizures made withing the period under review.
The Coordinator said members of his Team have remained resolute and undeterred at enforcing government policies and Customs extant laws achievements recorded so far were made possible because of the support provided by the management of the Customs Service under the leadership of Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali CFR (RTD).
Yusuf said his Team has continued to review strategies to defeat smugglers in their game of concealment, false declaration, underpayment during the yuletide period.
The strike force coordinator disclosed that two suspects, were arrested in connection with some of the seizures, but added that they have been released on administrative bail.
According to Yusuf, a 70-year old man and his son were arrested in Epe market in connection with pangolins scales worth over N800m.
Recalled that there had been an existing ban imposed on the international trade on pangolins and their parts since 2016 convention held in Flora South Africa.
“Under the convention on international trade in Endangered Species (CITES), some species of animal are conserved from going to extinction, hence pangolin among other animals have been subject to exploitation which has continued till date but little are known about their natural history, status that must be conserved.
“Campaigns and sensitization on the poaching of pangolins must be intensified since it plays a dominant role on the ecosystem thereby protecting the forest from termites and other insect destruction,” he stated.
