SPECIAL REPORT: CUSTOMS FOU IMPOUNDS 17 VEHICLES, 13 TRAILER LOADS OF RICE, INDIAN HEMP, OTHERS WORTH N1.2BILLION
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced the seizures of items including 17 vehicles, foreign parboiled rice, Indian hemp and others worth N1,241,777,700 in duty paid value.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, Acting Controller of the FOU Zone A, Hussein Ejibunu said that in its continuous quest to prevent revenue loss through various infractions such as; under-valuation, under-payments, and wrong classification, the sum of N115,456,534.94 was collected by the unit following the issuance of demand notices to defaulters.
Giving a breakdown of the seized items, he said “We were able to seize a total of 7,381 units of 50kg foreign parboiled rice from smugglers. This amounts to almost thirteen trailer loads of rice.
A total of seventeen vehicles were also seized from smugglers who wanted to circumvent the law by evading duty payment. For the avoidance of doubts
Our officers also intercepted 593 jerrycans (14,825 litres) of premium motor spirit. Because of the volatility of this product, we have safely disposed of them in line with laid down due process. Other seizures include 657 pieces of used tyres, 167 (202 kg) parcels of Indian hemp, 39 bales of second hand-clothing, 100 packs of tomato ketchup, 4 units of used motorcycle, 600 cartons of GIV soap and 730 sacks of hide and skin hidden in a 1×40 container equivalent to 5,033 pieces.
Ejibunu appealed to all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to support the Unit with credible information that will assist in battling economic sabotage.
