The Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 31 containers fully loaded with Thai parboiled rice imported from China and falsely declared as yeast at the Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICP) in Lagos state.
This was made known Friday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali while conducting newsmen round the seized rice at the TICP terminal.
Represented by the Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs (DCGs) Dan Ugo and Iyal Umar, Ali who disclosed that the said crime was committed by Destiny Limited also said that the importer was bent on cheating the government going by the quantity of rice involved.
He pointed out that the seizure was made possible following the eagle of the Customs Area Controller and his men adding that the 31 containers contained over 14, 000 bags of Thai Parboiled rice and were brought in by Maersk vessel.
He observed that the differential in the amount of duty payable on yeast and that payable on imported rice was what made the seizure remarkable explaining that while yeast attracts 5% duty, rice pays 10% duty and 60% levy even as he revealed that the amount he was trying to defraud the government of was deafening.
According to him,” So, in the process of the daily routine work of the officers at the Tincan Island ports, under the administration of the Customs Area Controller, seizures have been made and this is significant and that is why we are here today.
“An importer by the name Destiny Limited brought in 31 containers and declared them to be yeast and for those of who have knowledge of what we are talking about, yeast is supposed to pay 5% rate of duty by the classification but what we found out at the end of the day was that instead of yeast which he declared, all the 31 containers were loaded with imported rice and of course, that is false declaration.
“But the major import of it is that beyond distorting statistics, evading revenue and all the other implications is that the gap between the yeast he declared and the rice that carried, if you put it in finance sense, that would be a big loss to the Federal government of Nigeria.
Whereas yeast is just supposed to pay 5% rate of duty, rice which he refused to declare pays 10% and 60% levy. So, if you add that up, the amount of money which he is trying to shortchange the Federal government is awesome, the amount is in fact deafening if I must pronounce it.
And so, following the eagle eye of the Controller and his men, this seizures were made and we are talking of over 14, 000 bags of Thai rice. The rice was brought by Maersk vessel and as it is, we will go and do the needful”.
When asked if the importer would be made to pay a penalty fee and be allowed to carry his consignment, the Customs boss stated,” At instances, that can be done and there are instances where that cannot be done. Abinitio, this guy declared that he was carrying yeast, it was manifested right from there that he was carrying yeast. So, there are no ambiguities about it. If a man has to commit a crime and you ask him to pay certain levy and go, it is a slap on the least, the deterrent you are looking for is no more there, you are encouraging others to get involved, like gambling, if they catch you okay, if they don’t catch you, go. But again we are playing by the rules, the CEMA is clear on it.
“So, in an instance like this, in this particular instance, that cannot be the position because he knew what he set out to do”.
He further stated that the importer of the commodity was not a fast track beneficiary and that he was not on the list that they were aware of at the moment saying that if he was, he would have applied for the cargoes to be transferred to his warehouse or bonded terminal.
He however disclosed that investigation was ongoing on the matter and that at the end of the investigation, the service would ascertain what happened and whosoever was responsible would face the full consequences and the impact of the law.
On his part, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar indicated that while the actual duty for the 31 containers of rice was yet to be fully arrived at, it was estimated at over N71 million saying that the actual value would soon be made public by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Uche Ejesieme.
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