Customs intercepts N767m cargoes at Lagos ports

THE Comptroller General of Customs ( CGC) Strike Force has intercepted contrabands and raised Debit Notes ( DN) on under- declared cargoes worth N767 million.

While the contrabands were goods smuggled into the country from neigbouring Republic of Niger, the DN raised were on 13 containers falsely and under- declared at the seaports in the last three weeks.

Speaking on the seizure, the Coordinator, CGC’S Strike Force, Zone A, Lagos, Deputy Compt. Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, said about N350 million was raised from DN on cargoes at Tincan and Apapa seaports while N417 million was Duty Paid Value ( DPV) of contraband goods smuggled into the country.

According to him, 2,147 cartons of cosmetics, vehicles, 1,185 bags of smuggled rice and 1,320 bales of textile materials falsely declared as machinery were seized in the weeks under review.

“These are some of our anti- smuggling efforts. We have containers loaded with footwear. Recall that shoes are a contraband item, and the goods were falsely declared,” he said.

He stated further that the DPV of 935 cartons of shoes was N32 million. “The intervention we have made so far is 13 containers of various items that are contraband as well as falsely- declared worth over N350 million,” he added.

He continued: “Also, we intercepted 756 bales of lace materials with DPV of N34 million. The reason behind the seizure was that they were falsely declared as machinery. If the declaration was honest, we would not have seized the consignment because it is on the contraband list.”

Shuaibu, however, advised smugglers to desist from unlawful practice while urging importers and clearing agents to be honest in declaration and documentation. Also speaking, the National Public Relation Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, said the interception of contrabands and DN of N767 Million raised in the last three weeks explained the relevance of the strike force team.

“Smuggling does not only apply to arms, ammunition, cocaine or someone who followed unapproved routes but also those who bring in imported dutiable items but chose to evade customs duty. The reason behind a false declaration is to evade the payment of appropriate duty.