ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
As part of its efforts in fighting smuggling in the country, the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “D” has said its operatives have seized diesel, insecticide, textile materials, vehicles, used tyres, rice among others worth N51,238,235 million within five months.
This was disclosed by the Comptroller, FOU, comprising of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa States, Adesanmi Omiye, at a press conference, held at the Zonal Headquarters, Bauchi on Thursday.
Comptroller Omiye said that the seizures which where from February to June, 2021 included a vehicle containing 33,900 liters of diesel which were packaged in 565 bags worth N12,910,250 adding that they were seized around Otukpa in Benue State.
He added that other seizures included 24 Bundles of Foreign Textiles Material with a DPV of N8,880,000.00, four vehicles with a Duty Paid Value of N5,130,000 and 27 bales of second hand clothing with a Duty Paid Value of N4,860,000.
“The operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’ Bauchi apart from blocking and suppressing smuggling within the Zone have made seizures of 565 sacks containing 60 liters each of Vehicle/Petroluem Products (Diesel) totaling 33,900 liters with a DPV of N12,910,250.
“Twenty Four (24) Bundles of Foreign Textiles Material with a DPV of N8,880,000.00, four Used vehicles with a DPV of N5,130,000.00, 27 Bales of Second Hand Clothing with DPV of N4,860,000.00 and 236 Cartons of Foreign Soap with DPV of N1,556,500.00.
“Others are 143 Foreign Parboiled Rice with a DPV of N3,776,000.00, 196 Cartons of Foreign spaghetti with a DPV of N1,411,200.00, 60 Jerrycans of Vegetable Oil with a DPV of N1,440,000.00 and 52 used Tukumbo Tyres with a DPV of N624,000.00.
“The total DPV of all seizures is N51,238,235.00,” he said.
The Zonal Comptroller said that the actions of the Custom operatives are in line with the provisions of Section 8 and Section 158 (Power to Patrol Freely) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, The Comptroller said that the diesel was seized at Otukpa in Benue State and from our little investigation, it seems to be coming all the way from Port Harcourt laden with 565 bags of diesel.
“The Nigerian Custom Service assures the public that nothing of this such will escape our eagle eyes.” He said.
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The Customs boss noted that these “unprecedented Seizures” were achieved as a result of sharing of information, intelligence gathering and doggedness of the Officers/Men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’ in making the Zone unbearable for smugglers.
He warned smugglers to leave their nefarious activities and get a better job vowing that “the Nigerian Custom Service will not rest on its oars but will ensure that we make this zone unbearable for them and we rid them out.”
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