The Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri, of the Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted contraband and unregistered products with a Duty paid Value (DPV) of over N5.5m
This was contained in a Press Release by the FOU Zone C Owerri and made available to our Correspondent Thursday.
The statement has quoted the Customs FOU Zone C, Owerri, Controller, Comptroller BA Balogun as saying during a press Conference in Benin, the Edo state capital that “This media briefing is an innovative tradition of the unit, which provides an open platform to share our performance scorecard directly with the most respected Nigerian populace, whom we serve as we carry out our duties.”
The FOU Zone C Owerri Customs Boss added that it was aimed at informing the public about the recent milestone successes, that the Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri has achieved “as a unit, team, and family, particularly in the areas of legitimate trade facilitation, increasing revenue collections, collaborating with relevant Security Agencies and critical stakeholders, enforcing government fiscal policy, and suppressing of smuggling activities.”
He stated that in their effort to inform the public on the productive activities of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Operations Units (FOU) Zone C, Owerri has continued to work strategically as a team and goal-oriented unit in carrying out its constitutional mandate, even as he insisted that the unit under his watch and the able leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, BA Adeniyi MFR, would continue to deploy an intelligence-led strategy in their day-to-day operations, which according to him has yielded tremendous successes in their interventions and anti-smuggling drive.
Continuing, Comptroller Balogun noted that during the period under review, the officers and men of the unit ” have exhibited the highest level of professionalism and relentless efforts in the implementation of government fiscal policy by enforcing the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 as it relates to Import, Export, Revenue Generation, Security of lives and properties in the nation’s borders of the South-South and South-Eastern States. ”
Giving details, he noted that the items arrested for investigation include: Dry salted Donkey skin made up of 3022 pieces packed in sacks, used Tyres, used Clothing in bales and bags, bags of foreign parboiled rice in 50kg and 25kg, foreign wine in cartons without NAFDAC registration number, foreign cosmetics, 58 cartons without NAFDAC registration number.
Furthermore, Foreign Geisha in cartons, bags of woven empty 50kg sacks loaded, two used trucks, Mercedes trucks, a Scania Truck, One used Toyota Tundra SUV and One used J5 Bus among others with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N505,520,886.00 (Five hundred and five million, five hundred and twenty thousand, eight hundred and eighty-six naira only) were seized.
Comptroller Balogun emphasized that the unit remained committed to the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, BA Adeniyi (MFR), on consolidation of successes achieved, collaborative engagement with all relevant security agencies and critical stakeholders, and innovative ideas to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in customs operations.
On inter-agency collaboration, he hinted that the seized Cannabis Sativa shall be handed over to NDLEA, whereas the Medicament is to be handed over to NAFDAC, and the seized Dry Salted Donkey Skin would be handed over to NESREA, among others.
He attributed the timely successes and achievements to the purposeful leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs and a high level of professionalism, commitment, and teamwork among his officers and Men of the unit
He vowed continued commitment to sanitizing the zone of any form of illicit trade activities and facilitating legitimate trade while also using the medium “to thank the amiable CGC and his entire management team for the dynamic leadership styles and qualities”
Adding “We call on our traders and stakeholders to be compliant, as our officers are professionally trained to checkmate the activities of non-compliant traders and block likely areas of revenue leakages.” He said.
Comptroller Balogun commended the media for their relentless efforts in making sure that the Anti-smuggling activities, innovations and the giant strides of the unit and the customs service in general are carried out across the Nation, even as he urged all well-meaning Nigerians to support the service with necessary information and intelligence that could assist it in curbing the smuggling of illicit goods and substances into the nation.”
By Bon Peters
