While people are celebrating the Christmas season, the smugglers in Zone
‘C’ are counting their losses as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal
Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘C’, Owerri intercepted a mercedez truck
loaded with one thousand, three hundred (1,300) cartons of imported frozen
poultry products, concealed with Polymers Vinyl Chloride (PVC) sheets and
ceramic bath tubs with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Twelve million, four
hundred thousand naira (N12,400,000.00) on Benin-Ore express way two days
before the Christmas day.
The Customs Area Controller of the unit –Comptroller Dimka Victor David
fsi, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the seizures made, during
which he revealed that a total of thirty-one (31) seizures which include
twenty-one (21) vehicles have been recorded between 1st December to date
with DPV of One hundred and eighteen million, one hundred and ninety
thousand, two hundred and seventeen naira (#118,190,217.00), with
twenty-three (23) arrests made and twenty-two (22) cases pending in
different courts within the Zone ‘C’ axis.
Dimka who decried the incalculable harm being inflicted on the nation’s
economy as a result of unabated smuggling of prohibited products into the
country, warned those still engrossed in the act to desist forthwith or
have themselves to blame if arrested. “We will continue to make this Zone
very very hot and uncomfortable for smugglers to remain in business and we
are not mincing words about this”.
According to him, one suspect was arrested in connection with the
smuggling of the imported frozen poultry product and is now undergoing
interrogation for further prosecution in court. He stressed that the NCS
is trying to ensure that it does not give any chance to smugglers until
they are brought to their knees, warning “a word is enough for the wise.”
The destruction of the seized imported frozen poultry products was carried
out immediately in the premises of Customs House Benin, which was
witnessed by the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp,
Department of State Security, NAFDAC, and the press.
Dimka expressed delight at the desirable and cordial synergy between the
NCS and other sister agencies such as the Nigeria Police, State Security
Service (SSS), Nigerian Army, National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the fight against
smuggling and expressed optimism that this would continue to grow from
strength to strength.
The Area Controller affirmed that the determination of Nigeria Customs
Service to reposition itself for greater challenges is unstoppable, just
as the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.), has
repeatedly warned smugglers operating in the country to change business or
face the wrath of the law.
The CGC gave this warning when he visited the zone recently, “Smuggling is
one of the dangerous activities which affect the nation’s economy, so,
smugglers should change business because it is an illegal business,”
“Many people are of the belief that smuggling is a legal source of
livelihood, but it is not; it’s an illegal business,’’ he said.
Dimka made it clear that all suspects arrested in connection with
smuggling activities who are on bail, are still not free until the
determination of their cases in court; and those found to have contravened
the law would be jailed.