CITIZENS COMPASS – THE Nigeria Customs Service has disclosed that no fewer than 13 suspects are currently facing interrogation for various offences bothering on smuggling of goods within the Federal Operations, Zone A, Lagos State of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The suspects according to the Nigeria Customs Service include the driver of a Sienna bus who was arrested at Ijebu-Ode checkpoint, Ogun State while conveying bulletproof jackets, jack knives and pistol pouches.
Disclosing this on Wednesday at a press conference, the Acting Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu said the operation was part of the continuous efforts to suppress smuggling and safeguard national security in the country.
While giving the breakdown of the operations, he said the intercepted items from the Sienna bus were 15 bullet proof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives and 20 pieces of pistol pouches.
He said this was part of his success stories in the month of July 2023.
“Within July 2023, the seriousness of our officers led to the interception of smuggled 15 bulletproof jackets, 15 pieces of jack knives and 20 pieces of pistol pouches inside a Toyota Sienna Bus in Ogun State at Ijebu-Ode Checkpoint.
” The driver of the vehicle was arrested in conjunction with the seized controlled wares,” he said.
He advised individuals, groups and corporate organisations to obtain an end-user certificate before dealing on items like bulletproof materials.
” It is pertinent to know that the importation of all forms of bulletproof materials such as vests, ballistic materials and vehicles, as well as parts and accessories for all military armaments and hardware such as guns, arms and ammunition of all kinds; lethal and non-lethal requires an end-user certificate.
“An end-user certificate is applied to, and issued by the office of the national security adviser which loses its validity after one year from the issuance date. Hence, anyone importing a controlled item must do so within the validity period of the end-user certificate.
“Seizures recorded within the period under review are a reflection of officers’ commitment to duty, and no compromise posture in the discharge of our statutory responsibilities; aimed at protecting the national economy and preventing the importation of prohibited, and harmful goods, ” said the Acting Controller”, he said.
He attributed the success story to his boss.
” This success story will not be complete without my expression of gratitude to the Ag. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) whose maiden working visit to the Unit was a morale booster. I also use this medium to thank him and members of the management team for stoking our logistics for more gainful performance.
“50 seizures were made within the period under review for non-compliance with the extant Customs laws. Notable among the seizures made are;
5,642 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 9 trailer loads), 18,925 litres (757 X 25 litres jerry cans of premium motor spirit, 20 pieces of pistol pouches, 15 pieces of bulletproof jackets, ”
Others were,” 15 pieces of jack knives, 49 cartons of children’s school shoes, 181(87 kg) parcels of Indian Hemp and 357 kegs X 5 litres of vegetable oil among others.
“The total duty paid value (DPV) of the seized goods stood at N462,708,875. The sum of N66,493,346.41 was recovered as revenue into the federation account through the issuance of demand notices (DN) on Customs duties that were discovered to be underpaid.
” 13 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures, and are at different stages of investigations and prosecution.
” I will also hand over three suspects and cannabis sativa with a net weight of 7,728 kilogrammes to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos State Command; for further investigation and prosecution.”
