The Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Ikeja, Lagos state of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contrabands with a duty paid valued (DPV) N1, 120, 714, 338.12 between June 13, 2018 to July 24, 2018.
Also the customs officers from the confiscated fleets of smuggled cars at the park of a dealer in Ikeja.
This was disclosed by the Controller of FOU, Mohammed Uba Mohammed on Wednesday while briefing the media on the activities of his command.
According to him, the seized items included 21 exotic vehicles , 9,504 bags of foreign rice parboiled (15 trailers), 436 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 333 cartoons of frozen poultry products, 287 bales of used clothing, and 198 pieces of used tyres, among others.
The detained vehicles included 1 Mercedes benz g-500, (2016), 6 Toyota Hiace Bus (2018), 3 Lexus Jeep GX460 and Lx570 (2017), 1 Toyota proof (2014), 1 Toyota LAND Cruiser Prado (2016), 1 Honda Civic (2016), 1 Honda Accord (2016), 1 Dodge Charger (2016), among others.
Uba said “the 21 exotic vehicles have a duty paid value of N484, 458, 778, 92 only. While some of the vehicles were intercepted along Ijebu Ode Expressway, 10 were evacuated from Oluwalogbon motors, Ikeja based on credible information.
“As I speak to you, nobody has come to claim ownership, Let me use this oppourtunity to urge the owners of these vehicles to come forward with valid Custom clearance document otherwise they will be liable to seizure and subsequent forfeiture to the federal government in line with the laws of the land.
“For avoidance of doubt our action is in line with the provisions of Sections 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, (power to search premises), section 158 of CEMA Cap 45 Laws of Federation of Nigeria (power to patrol freely).”
Other contrabands included Iveco Truck with registration number LAM283 LG along Ijebu-Ode Ore Road carrying 498 cartoons of CSP Codeine Cough Syrup 100ml with each carton containing 200 bottles.
The substance was valued 199, 2000, 000.00 and two suspects have been arrested.
The controller explained that the dugs suspect would be handed over to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and possible prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Apart from these two containers were also seize while 1/40ft container number PCIU922659/8 was seized for carrying 525 bales of second hand clothing as against used cycles declared in SGD, 1/4ft container number PCIU871664/5 was seized for carrying 11 jumbo bales of jeans, 365 cartons of new slippers, 145 cartons of new bags as against adhesive dressing.”
He said investigation was on-going and anyone found culpable would face the wrath of law.
“Within the period under review, we have also received N67, 375, 670.5 making a cumulative of N1, 188, 090,009. 10 suspects have been arrested in connection with these seizures.
The Controller thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali for his visionary leadership and encouragement to the FOU towards combating smuggling activities.
