Customs Intercepts Contrabands Worth N28.8b In Oyo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo, Osun Area Command has intercepted prohibited items worth N28,889,848.79.
The items included15 vehicles laden with assorted contraband goods with a total duty paid value (DPV) of N23,320,190.00.
The command’s area controller (CAC), Mr. Emmanuel Udo-Aka, while briefing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said that vehicles were used to conceal the prohibited items which included second hand clothing, foreign rice and other contraband goods.
Udo-Aka said detentions were effected on Saturday, 17th June along Saki axis in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State through a synergy with the headquarters’ Compliance Team and Customs Intelligence Unit of Oyo axis. He however said that no suspect was arrested.
According to him, another MAN Diesel Truck with registration number LSD 445 XU concealing 172 pieces of used tyres and 272 pieces of vehicle wheels was also intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on June 9th 2017.
“The overall duty paid value of all the confiscated items is N28,889,848.79.
The Oyo/Osun Area Command had initiated new anti-smuggling strategies which led to remarkable exploits as evidenced in the arrest of fiveteen vehicles laden with assorted contraband goods with a total duty paid value of 23,320,139.00 which were on display.
“The arrested vehicles were used to conceal prohibited items notable second hand clothing, foreign rice and other contraband goods. However, no suspect was arrested based on their smartness as they took to their heels and eloped into the bush as soon as they sighted the eagle-eyed Customs officers.
“The arrested vehicles included the under listed: One peugeot 406 2008 model with DPV of N1, 158,780.00; one Mitsubishi Lancer model with a DPV of N1,158,780.00; one Golf 1999 model with DPV of N1,158,780.00; three Toyota Corolla 2005 models with a DPV of N3,476,340.00; one Toyota Corolla 2005 Model with DPV of N2,027,856.00; one Toyota Corolla 2009 model with DPV of 3,331,493.00; one Honda Civic 2000 model with DPV of N1,158,780.00 and one Peugeot 2008 model with DPV of N1,158,780.00.
“It is also disheartening to discover that some members of the public especially elders do come to plead for the release of impounded contraband goods.
“While we will not tolerate smuggling either from the public or from the officers who might want to connive with smugglers, I want to make it crystal clear to the entire public that the period of 30 days of grace that was given to pay duties for vehicles that were smuggled has expired. The grace period ended on the 19th of May, 2017 and no amount of begging will extend the period”.
