Friday, 4 August 2023

CUSTOMS: FOU INTERCEPTS BULLETPROOF JACKETS, JACK KNIVES, RECOVERED N66.4 MILLION AS REVENUE INTO FEDERATION ACCOUNT IN JULY

CUSTOMS: FOU INTERCEPTS  BULLETPROOF JACKETS, JACK KNIVES, RECOVERED N66.4 MILLION AS REVENUE INTO FEDERATION ACCOUNT IN JULY

 By: Bisi Akingbade

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, in its bid to suppress smuggling, block revenue leakages, facilitate legitimate trade, collect revenue and contribute to national security, has intercepted. smuggled 15 bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives and 20 pieces of pistol pouches inside a Toyota Sienna Bus in Ogun State at Ijebu-Ode Checkpoint.

The Acting Controller, Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, made this known while addressing journalists at his command in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to Ejibunu "Ladies and gentlemen of the media, in recognition of the responsibility bestowed on the Federal Operations Unit Consequent to this commitment, I want to highlight the most recent achievements of this Unit in our continuous efforts to suppress smuggling and safeguard national security.

"Within July 2023 the sedulousness of our officers led to the interception of smuggled 15 bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives and 20 pieces of pistol pouches inside a Toyota Sienna Bus in Ogun State at Ijebu-Ode Checkpoint. The driver of the vehicle was arrested in conjunction with the seized controlled wares.

"It is pertinent to know that the importation of all forms of bulletproof materials such as vests, ballistic materials and vehicles, as well as parts and accessories for all military armaments and hardware such as guns, arms and ammunition of all kinds; lethal and non-lethal requires an end-user certificate. 

"An end-user certificate is applied to, and issued by the office of the national security adviser which loses its validity after one year from the issuance date. Hence, anyone importing a controlled item must do so within the validity period of the end-user certificate.
The Acting Controller stated that the seizures recorded within the period under review are a reflection of officers’ commitment to duty, and no compromise posture in the discharge of statutory responsibilities; aimed at protecting the national economy and preventing the importation of prohibited, and harmful goods.

He enumerated the seizures made by the command within the period under review for non-compliance with the extant Customs laws includes 5,642 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 9 trailer loads), 18,925 litres (757 X 25 litres jerry cans of premium motor spirit), 20 pieces of pistol pouches 15 pieces of bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives, 

Others are 49 cartons of children school shoes, 181(87 kg) parcels of Indian Hemp,  357 kegs X 5 litres of vegetable oil1 and  two unit of Honda Motorcycle used (Tokumbo) vehicles.

He affirmed that the total duty paid value, DPV, of the seized goods stood at Four Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Seven Hundred and Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Five Naira (N462,708,875). While the sum of Sixty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourty-Six Naira, Fourty-One Kobo (N66,493,346.41) was recovered as4 revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.  

He said further that the suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures, and are at different stages of investigations and prosecution.

"I will also hand over three (3) suspects and cannabis sativa with a net weight of 7,728 kilogrammes to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos State Command; for further investigation and prosecution. 

Controller Ejibunu expressed his gratitude to the Ag. Comptroller Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and members of the management team whose maiden working visit to the Unit was a morale booster.