Barely one week after the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri made seizures of 42 various contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value of N197,385,747.00, the unit has recorded another major breakthrough in its onslaught against smuggling of illegally imported goods in the country.
A total of 14 suspects are now in Customs net in connection with the recent contraband items seized with a total DPV of N441,685,968.00.
An analysis of the items confiscated indicate that a total of 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry product (Chicken, turkey and gizzard), which were deliberately concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks, with used Jacuzzi bathing tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck, to beat the eagle-eye Customs officers.
The products, which were impounded at the Benin, Agbor and Bayelsa/Port-Harcourt axis between the wee hours of August 13 and 14 respectively, have a DPV of N89,338,400.00.
In addition, a total of 100 vehicles with fake documents were impounded along the Benin Expressway, Agbor-Asaba axis and Aba/Owerri Highway, of which 15 are latest models of vehicles ranging from Toyota Camry (bulletproof car) 2015 model without End-user Certificate, six Land Cruiser Prado, Land cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner, Lexus LX 570 and Mercedez Benz CLS 350, all 2014/2015 model worth N346,347,568.00.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor David, made this known to newsmen when the seized items were being displayed.
Dimka said four suspects were arrested in connection with the illegally imported frozen poultry products and eight suspects for the smuggled vehicles.
The destruction of the imported frozen poultry products was carried out in the presence of some officials of NESREA, NAFDAC and DSS in line with the recently launched “Operation Hawk Descend” to check the activities of smugglers of foreign frozen chicken, turkey and other poultry products by the Nigeria Customs Management.
Dimka added that a total of 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6,000,000 was equally seized by his officers at Ikom boarder in Cross River State, with two suspects involved in the shady deal.
The suspects are helping the Customs in their investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items.
The CAC, who once again denounced the rising tide of smuggling activities in the country despite the obvious consequences of the unpatriotic business, warned those still involved to desist forthwith in their own interest.
Dimka observed that smuggling of contraband goods has continued to damage the nation’s economy and many families have been ruined as a result of the indulgence of some of their beloved ones in this obnoxious act.
He also reminded smugglers that the Nigeria Customs Service is now better trained, equipped and motivated with necessary logistics to meet its challenges.
Trending
- Traditional ruler shot dead inside palace
- Primate Ayodele to Yoruba Nation agitators: You can’t break Nigeria
- Police intercept bags of Indian Hemp at Lagos jetty
- Enugu, families to give Ibu, Junior Pope befitting burial
- Police arrest suspects for attempting to disrupt inauguration of commissioners
- Police rescue three children locked up by grandmother + Photo
- Police foil attack in Katsina, neutralise suspected bandit
- US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership