The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri has again seized two new bullet-proof Prado Jeeps, among other vehicles and contraband goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of five hundred and forty-five million, six hundred and fifty-one thousand, fifty naira (N545,651,050.0); and arrested five suspects.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the unit, Comptroller Dimka, Victor David disclosed this, while briefing newsmen at the Customs warehouses in Owerri and Benin respectively, where he glaringly said that the seizures were made along Aba/Eleme axis and Agbor-Benin Expressway within one week, after the unit impounded an illegally imported bullet-proof vehicle.
The Comptroller displayed the seized eighty-five (85) bales of second hand clothing with DPV of N8,160,000.00, and 1 X 40 container of 373 bales of used school bags with a DPV of #22,477,200.00 at the Customs warehouse in Owerri; while a total of thirteen smuggled vehicles, all brand new models which include: two bullet-proof Prado Jeeps, nine Toyota Land cruiser Prado and three Toyota Corolla cars with DPV of #285,242,000.00 were similarly showcased at Benin Customs warehouse.
In addition, two (2) trucks carrying a total of 1,220 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N22,814,000 were impounded among other smuggled trucks with DPV of N110,187,000.00 and numerous cartons of imported frozen poultry products with DPV of 96,770,840.00 which were already destroyed.
According to Dimka, the banned items secretly smuggled into the country, fell into the hands of the eagle-eyes of the Officers; with recent policy christened “Quick fix” adopted by the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. John Atteh to address the need of Customs to maximise revenue generation for the nation and also ensure a stronger, more oriented, vibrant and efficient Customs Service.
Dimka glaring at the seizures, said that while a good number of well meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramification, some smugglers are unrepentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest.
While enumerating the obvious consequences of smuggling to the nation’s economy and her citizenry, Dimka wondered why some individuals are still engrossed in the illicit act when it has brought unspeakable sorrows and griefs to those caught and members of their families
