Customs Strike Force recovers N1bn from duty-evading importers, smugglers

 By ANDREW UTULU

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Strike Force Unit has said that it intercepted and raised Debit Notes (DN), worth N1billion from importers, Shippers and clearing agents who attempted to cut corners in the last three months.

The service also said smugglers now make use of cattle, camels, vehicle’s fuel compartment, used tyres and booths to smuggle rice and other dangerous goods into the country.

Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC), who made the disclosure to Daily Independent, said the amount generated would have been lost to smugglers, fraudulent importers and clearing agents who under- declared their cargoes at the seaports.

He stated further that the unit in the last three months intercepted foreign arboiled rice, printed label materials, used vehicles, textiles material, used tyres and second-hand clothings.

He charged importers who get involved in false declaration of cargoes and under-declaration to turn a new leave and uphold true declaration.

“The Comptroller General, strike force Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, generated N1.03billion from Debit Notes(DN), on major and minor infractions on cargoes that exited at the seaports of the Tin-Can Island and Apapa ports.

“The essence of the strike force ICT and raising of alerts on consignments is to raise debit notes.

“Also, importers and agents that we got this huge debit notes from would not appreciate us for what we have done, rather that will castigate us,” the Customs oss asserted.

DC Shuaibu also raised the alarm of new methods used by smugglers to smuggle contraband, especially rice into the country.

He said, smugglers now endanger lives of Nigerians by smuggling cargoes through the use car booths, fuel compartment, tyres, vehicle engines a,ong others.

According to him, “these rice, when seized are regarded as hazardous items.”

Also, Joseph Attah, a Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the Service, noted that the over 1 billion generated from alert in the first quarter have justified the creation of the Strike force Unit. Comptroller of Customs (DC) and

He also said the new method used by smugglers has shown that big vehicles can no longer be used to smuggle rice and other contraband into the country.

“We have suppressed smuggling to the extent that they no long make use of big trucks, vehicles, motorcycles to smuggle anymore. They now make use of camels, cattle, donkeys to move them in trickles.

For instance, he said the three wonder cars were reconstructed and redesigned for the purpose of smuggling. They are reconstructed to get as much rice as possible, the smugglers can no longer use trucks and motorcycles because they are becoming difficult due to the anti-smuggling drives of our officers”   (Daily INDEPENDENT)