…As Customs Service collects N163 million revenue in Minna***
The Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), an anti-smuggling arm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Ikeja, Garba Uba Mohammed on Wednesday advised trucks owners to stringently know their driver before surrendering their vehicles, warning that any vehicle caught in smuggling would be instantly impounded.
The Controller who indicated this while briefing journalists in his office, also stressed the importance of character checks, noting that the Service is legally empowered to intercept any suspicious containers or goods, anywhere and at any time, in the country; once there is genuine ground for real suspicion.
“Owners must know the drivers they want to employ to be driving their trucks, because any truck used for smuggling will be impounded,’’ Mohammed said.
He however assured that the service would continue with its strategy of enlightening the border communities on the dangers of smuggling, highlighting that the Service was more interested in people obeying Government’s fiscal policies; rather than being pursued to forcefully comply or be visited by the wrath of the law.
Comptroller Mohammed noted that the powers to intercept containers and goods anywhere in the country were drawn from the relevant sections of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).
“If you consider the number of containers being released daily from the ports and the number of containers we intercept for necessary investigation, you will know that we have high regard for trade facilitation.
“We will impound any suspected container, whether on the highway or in a warehouse,’’ the controller said, explaining that the FOU’s anti-smuggling operations of the unit was indeed, increasing revenue for government by way of duty payment; in addition to also securing local businesses operating legally within the country.
According to him, the recent seizures of choice cars from some car dealers in Lagos testifies to this.
“Our operations are intelligence-based and if the owners have evidence of duty payment, they should forward such evidence and the vehicles will be released to them.
“Our concern is to execute government policies in support of legitimate trade,’’ Mohammed said.
He insisted that smuggling posed a major security challenge to the nation and had implications on the national economy.
Mohammed said that the ban on the importation of rice through land borders still remained effective; saying: “we know that as the year draws to a close, people may scale up smuggling without realizing that government is very serious about the ban on rice import through land borders!”
In the meantime, the Niger Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) may have collected the sum of on N163 million as revenue in October.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Mr Binga Benjamin stated this on Wednesday, in Minna, imploring residents of the border communities to always provide the command with useful information, about the activities of rice and vehicle smugglers.
“We have put in place sensitive security measures in all identified illegal routes used by smugglers;
“And we will continue to strengthen the existing cordial relationship with the border communities in order to prevent smuggling;
“My area of supervision is a ‘no go area’ for any kind of smuggling business as armed personnel have been stationed there to prevent illegal activities”, the CAC indicated.
He assured that the area command would reward handsomely any person or group, who might provide useful information leading to the arrest and prosecutions of smugglers.
