FOU Zone 'A' Intercepts 104 Motorbikes, Others Through New Smuggling Hot Spots

FOU Zone 'A' Intercepts 104 Motorbikes, Others Through New Smuggling Hot Spots

CAC, FOU Zone 'A', Comptroller Hussein Kehind Ejibunu, 

By: Bisi Akingbade

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone 'A' of the Nigeria Customs Service , NCS, has intercepted  104 brand new Haojuo motorbikes, 3,653 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 11 units of used vehicles,  23,025 litres of PMS, 241 bales of used clothes, 1,490 kg of Indian Hemp, 1,220 cartons of foreign tomato paste, 983 pieces of used tyres and 556 cartons of slippers through a new smuggling hot spots and methods used by smugglers.

While addressing journalists in Lagos,the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Hussein Kehind Ejibunu, said this seizures worth total duty paid value of N854,156,712.

Ejibunu explained that the movement of 104 brand new motorcycles along a bush in Ogun State raised suspicion due to the use of motorcycles by bandits and kidnappers across the country.

He said “Smuggling is a crime that involves the act of false declaration and concealment of goods, the use of unapproved routes and ports for the exportation or importation of goods, forging of Customs documents, willful under-payment of Customs duties, and trafficking in prohibited or restricted goods, among others.

“The impact of smuggling has serious repercussions on the economy, the environment, health, and security. Thus, to restrain this trend of illegal commercial activities, there is a need for collaboration and strong partnership with other critical stakeholders through sharing of information and intelligence.

“In a continuous and renewed vigour to fight smuggling, we activated an enhanced intelligence gathering and information sharing mechanism and were able to identify some new smuggling hot spots and schemes employed by smugglers.