North Central: Nigeria Customs Service intercepts over N139 million goods

The Sector 3 Joint Border Patrol Team of the Nigeria Customs Service covering the North Central States of Nigeria has made 107 interceptions of goods worth over N139 million.

The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted items is put at N139,707,500.

The breakdown of the items are; 16 Used Vehicles worth N88,075,000, 1031 imported parboiled rice of(50kg bags) n26,290,500, premium motor spirit (PMS) 3068 x 25lt kegs n12,336,000, 1,777,600.00, 2 x 200lt drums, second hand clothing 91 bales  n20, 930,000.00, used shoes 19 sacks,  n855,000, 11 kegs of vegetable oil , n286,000, foreign tomatoes, 39 cartons n585,000, and motorcycle 5 pieces,  n350,000.

The Co-ordinator of the JBPT in the North – Central States, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters disclosed these during a news conference at the Customs House in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday.

Peters said that the operatives of the JBPT also tracked and arrested a trailer with Reg. No SRP 501 XA 550 with foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, along Mokwa-Jebba toad with a duty paid Value (DPV) of N14, 025,000

“Prominent to note also was the interception of 2019 Lexus Jeep that cost N21, 000,000.00) intercepted around Benue axis of the sector. It beats my imagination to think that a man who can afford this type of luxury car can invade customs duty of  N7.3 million,” he added.

The Comptroller added that the reinvigorated operatives of the sector had at different times and locations intercepted and seized 3068 kegs of 25 litres each of petroleum totalling 76,700 litres during attempts by some unpatriotic Nigerians to smuggle them out of the country.

According to him, it is difficult to imagine that despite the current scarcity of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country, some unpatriotic Nigerians still attempted to smuggle this product out of the country through our border.

He disclosed that in line with the extant laws, most of the inflammable products have been auctioned to the public and with the amount generated as fees remitted to government coffers.

“Worthy of note is the fact that petrol smuggling through the sector has continued to be on the decrease in the face of a sustained offensive against the illicit trade because the profit motive that drives smuggling is being scuttled. It is therefore reasonable for such people to embrace other means of livelihood.“

He said they would not relent in their efforts at fighting smuggling to a standstill, adding that,” We are on daily basis improving on our intelligence gathering method and deploying our efforts, as well as available logistics in accordance with all extant laws as enshrined in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45, LFN 2004 as amended, to ensure that Sector 3 is uncomfortable for all economic saboteurs.

He, therefore, warned those with evil activities and those using official or company vehicles to smuggle goods into the country to steer clear of sector 3 axis as there shall be no safe haven for them.

He added that three (3) illegal immigrants (Teenagers between 16-18 years of age) were arrested around Babanna axis of the Sector coming from Benin, Edo State en route Burkina-Faso stressing that after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the teenagers were been traffic by a syndicate to Burkina-Faso.

“The teenagers were handed over to Nigeria Immigration Service as one of the agencies in the sector saddled with such responsibilities” he stated further.

Comptroller Peters, however, expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) NIA, DSS, Immigration, Nigerian Police Force and other relevant sister agencies, who in their efforts, ensured the realization of the mandate and had made provisions for the needed equipment, especially operational vehicles.

He also stated that the CGC in his wisdom decided to rejig the sector operatives by injecting new gallant officers and fresh hands for effective performance.

“I cannot close this address without acknowledging the cooperation of the Traditional rulers, Youth and Community leaders, NURTW, IPMAN and the good people of North central States who have continued to provide a peaceful and enabling environment for our officers and men to carry out their statutory duties.”

PIAK