The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ Ikeja has raised its anti-smuggling bar through a re-invigorated methodology, aimed at suppressing smuggling.
This is evident from the torrents of seizures which the Unit recorded in the past one week.
The Controller Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Sani Maidugu made this disclosure during a chat with journalists that came on a fact-finding mission.
He highlighted some of the strategies which the Unit was adopting in tackling the hydra-headed monster of smuggling.
The Controller while prodded to speak on the strategies stated that he could not disclose some of the strategies for obvious reasons, but assured that his Unit would leave no stone unturned in the campaign against smuggling.
He stated that what was presently obtainable was akin to ‘Operation Hawk Descend’ which was a re-engineered approach aimed at blocking the supply chains of smugglers of uncustomed goods and ensuring a sustained suppression of smuggling to the barest minimum.
Answering questions on his plans for this ember months when business activities were generally expected to be on increase, the Controller reiterated his determination to restore and re-enact the operational sagacity which the Unit was known for.
He attributed the successes recorded in the past one week to the synergy and collaboration between his team leaders.
He described the team leaders as a bunch of deeply committed officers with impressive antecedents and pedigree, worthy of commendation.
The Controller gave a comprehensive list of seized items as follows: Ten thousand and twenty nine (10,029) bags of 50kg parboiled rice Valued at fifty million, one hundred and forty five thousand naira (N50,145,000.00) only, with a Payable Duty of fifteen million, and forty three thousand, five hundred naira (N15,043,500.00) only and a Duty Paid Value of sixty five million, one hundred and eighty eight thousand, five hundred naira (N65,188,500.00) only.
Three thousand, four hundred and seventy (3,470) cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products Valued at fifteen million, six hundred and fifteen thousand naira (N15,615,000.00) only with a Payable Duty of three million, one hundred and twenty three thousand naira (N3,123,000.00) only and a Duty Paid Value of eighteen million, seven hundred and thirty eight thousand naira (N18,738,000.00) only.
Two (2) vehicles Valued at seventy million naira (N70,000,000.00) only, with a Payable Duty of twenty four million, five hundred thousand naira (N24,500,000.00) only and a Duty Paid Value of ninety four million, five hundred thousand naira (N94,500,000.00) only.
Three hundred and thirty four (334) bales and fifty four (54) of new and used textile materials, Valued at five million, two hundred and eighty thousand naira (N5,280,000.00) only, with a Payable Duty of one million and fifty six thousand naira (N1,056,000.00) only and a Duty Paid Value of six million, three hundred and thirty six thousand naira (N6,336,000.00) only.
Thirty one (31) cartons of assorted soap Valued at one hundred and twenty four thousand naira (N124,000.00) only with a Payable Duty of twenty four thousand, eight hundred naira (N24,800.00) only and Duty Paid Value of one hundred and forty eight thousand naira (N148,000.00) only.
One hundred and seventy eight (178) cartons of sugar, Valued at seven hundred and twelve thousand naira (N712,000.00) only with a Payable Duty of one hundred and forty two thousand, four hundred naira (N142,400.00) only and a Duty Paid Value of eight hundred and fifty four thousand, four hundred naira (N854,400.00) only.
One hundred and forty (140) of Bonita spaghetti Valued at one hundred and forty thousand naira (N140,000.00) only with a Payable Duty of twenty eight thousand naira (N28,000.00) only and a Duty Paid Value of one hundred and sixty eight thousand naira (N168,000.00) only.
Seventy (70) cartons of Baron wine Valued at two hundred and sixty thousand naira (N260,000.00) only, with a Payable Duty of fifty two thousand naira (N52,000.00) only, and a Duty Paid Value of three hundred and twelve thousand naira (N312,000.00) only.
Thirty (30) cartons Valued at ninety thousand naira (N90, 000.00) only, with a Payable Duty of eighteen thousand naira (N18,000.00) only, and a Duty Paid Value of one hundred and eight thousand naira (N108,000.00) only.
He put the total value of the seizure at one hundred and forty two million, nine hundred and ninety one thousand naira (N142, 991, 000.00) only, with duty payable of forty four million, one hundred and two thousand, seven hundred naira (N44, 102,700.00) only, while the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of one hundred and eighty seven million, one hundred and three thousand, seven hundred naira (N187, 103, 700. 00) only.
In addition, the Controller informed the media that Controller’s Surveillance team Idiroko axis led by Chief Superintendent of Customs, Balogun Babatunde recorded one thousand, two hundred and eighty nine (1,289) bags of 50kg parboiled Rice and a Toyota Avalon armored car with a Duty Paid Value of sixty two million, three hundred and seventy eight thousand, five hundred naira (N62, 378, 500. 00) only.
Furthermore, the Controller confirmed that a patrol team of Monitoring team ‘B’ Idiroko Axis led by Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Ogundeyi Najim and others while on information patrol along Sango Ota and toll gate area of Ogun State intercepted a truck with registration no JJJ 966 XK suspected to be carrying smuggled frozen poultry products.
It was later confirmed after examination that the truck was laden with three thousand, two hundred and seventy five (3,275) cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products with a Duty Paid Value of seventeen million, six hundred and eighty five thousand naira (N17, 685, 000. 00) only.
The Controller promised that the teams would be more ruthless in the coming months to ensure that smuggled goods were not allowed to flood the country.
The Controller promised to bring his several years working experience as Commandant of the Customs College Ikeja to bear as he superintends over the busiest anti-smuggling Unit in the Country.
He further, promised to continually develop appropriate operational templates that would be regularly reviewed and evaluated to ensure alliance with the change mantra of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) with his Management.
The Controller advised for a general re-orientation by the smugglers but however assured that all honest and compliant declarants would be accorded a pride of place, in terms of ensuring legitimate trade facilitation in line with the mission and vision of the CGC.
The Controller assured further that the task of suppressing smuggling would be vigorously pursued and suspects prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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