The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/ Osun Command has paraded 15 contrabands laden vehicles arrested within its area of jurisdiction.
The contraband has a duty paid value (DPV) of N28.9 million, according a statement signed by the command Public Relations Officer (PRO), ASC II Ifeoma Ojekwu Onuigbo said the
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Udo-Aka disclosed this in the command headquarter, Ibadan.
She quoted Udo-Aka saying that the seizures were made along Saki axis in synergy with the Headquarters Compliance Team and Customs Intelligence Unit of the Oyo axis based on tip off from the information network led by DSC Alajogun Joseph.
In addition, another MAN diesel truck with registration number LSD 445 XU concealing 172 pieces of used tyres and 272 pieces of vehicle wheels was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Udo-Aka revealed that the vehicle wheels have a DPV of N1.5 million, just as he pointed out that the smugglers used the vehicles to conceal the prohibited items which include second hand clothing, foreign rice and other contraband goods.
According to the Customs Chief, the command was keeping faith with its resolve to rid the axis of recalcitrant and unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in nefarious smuggling activities. This had led the command to initiate new anti-smuggling strategies which led to remarkable exploits as evidenced in the latest arrests.
Continuing, he said: “No suspect was arrested based on their smartness as they took to their heels and eloped into bush as soon as they sighted the eagle-eyed Customs officers”
The contraband laden vehicles include one Peugeot 406 2008 model with DPV of N1, 158,780; one Mitsubishi Lancer model with a DPV of N1,158,780; one Golf 1999 model with DPV of N1,158,780; three Toyota Corolla 2005 model with a DPV of N3,476,340; one Toyota Corolla 2005 model with DPV of N2,027,856; and one Toyota Corolla 2009 model with DPV of N3,331,493.
Others are one Honda Civic 2000 model with DPV of N1, 158, 780; one Peugeot 2008 model with DPV of DPV of N1, 158, 780; one Volkswagen Sharon 1999 model with DPV of N1, 158, 780; one Toyota Camry 2001 model with DPV of N1, 158, 780; one Toyota Venza 2009 model with DPV of N2, 452, 408; one Lexus RX 350 Jeep 2007 model with DPV of 2,076,291; and one Nissan Pathfinder 2002 model with DPV of N1,861,291.
While appealing for continued support for the NCS from members of the public, Udo-Aka noted with concern that it is worrisome that some unpatriotic Nigerians still remained unrepentant despite the stern warning against smuggling and even as they continue to lose.
He also stated that it is disheartening to discover that some members of the public especially the elders do come to plead for the release of impounded contraband goods.
His words: “While we will not tolerate smuggling either from the public or from the officers who might want to connive with the smugglers, I want to make it crystal clear to the entire public that the period of 30 days of grace that was given for the public to pay duties for vehicles that were smuggled has expired. The grace period ended on the 19th of May 2017. We also want to inform the public that anybody whose goods have been impounded by the Customs should come forth with the genuine documents and claim ownership within 30 days after which goods are liable for seizure”.
