The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (Zone C)
Owerri has, between 2012 till date, seized various contraband items
valued at N5.4 billion.
The seizures range from used fake drugs, banned frozen poultry,
smuggled rice, vehicles, used clothing etc.
The feat has attracted the support of various civil society
organizations, who have vowed to join in the war against smuggling in
the interest of the nation.
The unit in the last two months also recorded seizures with Duty Paid
Value (DPV) over N281 million, even as it recovered N25.3 million from
underpaid duty.
Already, 32 suspects have been arrested in connection with the illegal
business, while 21 cases are now in courts.
The Customs Area Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor
David, who disclosed this while showcasing the items deposited at the
premises of the NCS in Owerri and Benin, explained that the seizures
were made between September 30 and November 9, 2015 within the zone.
He attributed the success to the renewed vigor of the officers and men
of the unit and the support of some sister agencies.
He listed the items to include 325 bales of second hand clothing with
a DPV of N41,570,000; 526 pieces of foreign used tyres with a DPV of
N3,156,000; 100 cartons of rubber slippers which had a DPV of
N41,320,000 and three vehicles with a DPV of N5,659,125. He said they
were all recorded within the Owerri axis.
Dimka added a total of 46 vehicles with a DPV of N222,287,855; three
vehicles with a DPV of N3,517,842 and 40 bags of 50kg rice with a DPV
of N748,000 , (52 vehicles in all) were equally made in Benin, Calabar
and Enugu accordingly.
“The latest feat was accomplished by the combined efforts of officers
and men on duty who he said are irrevocably determined to see that
smugglers, their sponsors and collaborators are apprehended and
brought to book.
“We are painstakingly doing our investigation and we will definitely
get to the root of these cases and bring all involved to book, while
those in court would be compelled to answer for what they have done.”
Meanwhile, the coalition of Civil Society Organization (CSO) and Civil
Rights Groups yesterday in Onitsha expressed support for Customs in
the battle against smuggling.
The groups in unison, said smuggling remains an act of sabotage
against the government, warning importers and traders who import and
deal on contraband goods to turn a new leaf or face unpalatable
consequences.
The bodies said they will not succumb to intimidation by any
unrepentant smuggler, noting that the nation’s economy is being
weakened by smugglers. The groups which comprises the Campaign for
Democracy, Human for Rights People Against Intimidation, Society
Against Abuse of Office, Movement Against Smuggling and Crime Against
the State, however called on the public to help the present government
in the country and the present leadership of the Nigeria Customs
Service succeed in its efforts to move the country forward.
Addressing newsmen in Onitsha, Uzor A. Uzor who spoke on behalf of the
groups said “Mr. Dimka and his officers and men have shown that they
have listening ears and ready to fight corruption in line with the
present administration, and promised that they will partner with them.
“FOU Zone ‘C’ in its fight against smuggling has seized over N5.4
billion worth of contraband goods between 2012 to 2015, a feat that
has not been recorded in the zone since its creation. In 2012, it made
166 seizures worth N1.04 billion, in 2013 it made 267 seizures worth
N1.6 billion; in 2014, it made over 300 seizures worth N1.88billion
and between January and September, 2015; it has made about 367
seizures worth about N2.2 billion, thereby reducing smuggling to the
barest minimum,” he said.
The groups appealed to the agency to apply human face and caution in
their job, by helping to educate the traders and importers in the zone
on the government policies as regards importation and goods that are
under prohibition.
He also thanked the Comptroller for squaring up against the illegal
activities of some criminals who have been extorting money from
traders and businessmen who transact businesses within some South-East
and South-South states.
“When Dimka got wind of their activities, he immediately swung into
action to fish out the criminal elements who have been parading
themselves as Customs by setting up the task force. However, since the
task force headed by Mr. Jack Okpabi , a Chief Superintendent of
Customs, was set up by FOU Zone ‘C’, and it swung into action, the
hoodlums have vanished from the roads, their extortion points and
other places they have been extorting money from the traders and
business men”, he stated.
Owerri has, between 2012 till date, seized various contraband items
valued at N5.4 billion.
The seizures range from used fake drugs, banned frozen poultry,
smuggled rice, vehicles, used clothing etc.
The feat has attracted the support of various civil society
organizations, who have vowed to join in the war against smuggling in
the interest of the nation.
The unit in the last two months also recorded seizures with Duty Paid
Value (DPV) over N281 million, even as it recovered N25.3 million from
underpaid duty.
Already, 32 suspects have been arrested in connection with the illegal
business, while 21 cases are now in courts.
The Customs Area Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor
David, who disclosed this while showcasing the items deposited at the
premises of the NCS in Owerri and Benin, explained that the seizures
were made between September 30 and November 9, 2015 within the zone.
He attributed the success to the renewed vigor of the officers and men
of the unit and the support of some sister agencies.
He listed the items to include 325 bales of second hand clothing with
a DPV of N41,570,000; 526 pieces of foreign used tyres with a DPV of
N3,156,000; 100 cartons of rubber slippers which had a DPV of
N41,320,000 and three vehicles with a DPV of N5,659,125. He said they
were all recorded within the Owerri axis.
Dimka added a total of 46 vehicles with a DPV of N222,287,855; three
vehicles with a DPV of N3,517,842 and 40 bags of 50kg rice with a DPV
of N748,000 , (52 vehicles in all) were equally made in Benin, Calabar
and Enugu accordingly.
“The latest feat was accomplished by the combined efforts of officers
and men on duty who he said are irrevocably determined to see that
smugglers, their sponsors and collaborators are apprehended and
brought to book.
“We are painstakingly doing our investigation and we will definitely
get to the root of these cases and bring all involved to book, while
those in court would be compelled to answer for what they have done.”
Meanwhile, the coalition of Civil Society Organization (CSO) and Civil
Rights Groups yesterday in Onitsha expressed support for Customs in
the battle against smuggling.
The groups in unison, said smuggling remains an act of sabotage
against the government, warning importers and traders who import and
deal on contraband goods to turn a new leaf or face unpalatable
consequences.
The bodies said they will not succumb to intimidation by any
unrepentant smuggler, noting that the nation’s economy is being
weakened by smugglers. The groups which comprises the Campaign for
Democracy, Human for Rights People Against Intimidation, Society
Against Abuse of Office, Movement Against Smuggling and Crime Against
the State, however called on the public to help the present government
in the country and the present leadership of the Nigeria Customs
Service succeed in its efforts to move the country forward.
Addressing newsmen in Onitsha, Uzor A. Uzor who spoke on behalf of the
groups said “Mr. Dimka and his officers and men have shown that they
have listening ears and ready to fight corruption in line with the
present administration, and promised that they will partner with them.
“FOU Zone ‘C’ in its fight against smuggling has seized over N5.4
billion worth of contraband goods between 2012 to 2015, a feat that
has not been recorded in the zone since its creation. In 2012, it made
166 seizures worth N1.04 billion, in 2013 it made 267 seizures worth
N1.6 billion; in 2014, it made over 300 seizures worth N1.88billion
and between January and September, 2015; it has made about 367
seizures worth about N2.2 billion, thereby reducing smuggling to the
barest minimum,” he said.
The groups appealed to the agency to apply human face and caution in
their job, by helping to educate the traders and importers in the zone
on the government policies as regards importation and goods that are
under prohibition.
He also thanked the Comptroller for squaring up against the illegal
activities of some criminals who have been extorting money from
traders and businessmen who transact businesses within some South-East
and South-South states.
“When Dimka got wind of their activities, he immediately swung into
action to fish out the criminal elements who have been parading
themselves as Customs by setting up the task force. However, since the
task force headed by Mr. Jack Okpabi , a Chief Superintendent of
Customs, was set up by FOU Zone ‘C’, and it swung into action, the
hoodlums have vanished from the roads, their extortion points and
other places they have been extorting money from the traders and
business men”, he stated.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/customs-fou-zone-c-seizes-n5-4bn-contraband-in-3yrs/
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