The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service Strike Force, Zone A, says it intercepted smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value of N643, 727, 837 in the past six weeks while some goods positioned for export in contravention of the export prohibition guidelines were intercepted.
The Strike Force has generated N3 billion within 11 months into the coffers of the government.
The Strike Force Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu made this known in Lagos recently and advised importers and exporters to be compliant with extant laws and make honest declarations, adding that the Zone generated the revenue from duty underpayment.
Shuaibu attributed the feat to ICT. Some of the items seized, according to him, include 1,372 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 50kg each; 5×20 feet containers of unprocessed logs of wood and 2×40feet (12,500 pieces) containers of donkey hides and skin.
Others are 6×40 feet and 1×20 feet (3,891 sacks) containers of charcoal; 229 sacks of shoes; 167 pieces of used tyres and one unit of Mazda bus.
He said the 1, 372 bags of 50kg foreign rice were not evacuated from anywhere but seized from the creeks bounding the entire southwest and brought to the command devoid of any casualties and scandals adding that every country has its regulations and that Nigerians must be on the same page with the government to enforce the fiscal policy of the government.
He stated that smuggling of foreign parboiled rice should be discontinued and advised on the patronage of rice farmers in Nigeria, so as to turn the economy around and put money in the hands of Nigerian farmers.
On the issue of smuggling of donkey skins, he said if the anomaly is allowed to continue, all the endangered species will disappear one day, adding that it is part of the Customs’ responsibility to ensure that they are protected.
He reminded that unprocessed wood and its derivatives are banned for exportation pointing out that the seized charcoal was evacuated from a warehouse close to Apapa at the point of export.
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