The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri, said 5,200 live ammunition (cartridges of 30GR 70mm Calibre) and various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N378,751,935.00 were intercepted between November 23 and December 27, 2020.
This, according to the service, followed intensification of its anti-smuggling operations.
The unit said it also recovered N7,557,731.00 from demand notices on general goods that tried to cut corners from seaports in the guise of false declaration, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payments that were meant for the coffers of Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative sum of N386,309,666.00 within the month under review.
Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Comptroller, Yusuf Lawal disclosed these while addressing the media in Owerri, Imo State Capital.
He expressed concerns over the trends in arms and ammunition smuggling in recent times, referring to the interception in Lagos in 2017, in kwara in 2018 and just recently in Kebbi using different routes and now the interception of 5,200 live ammunition (cartridges 30GR 70mm Calibre) on the 13th of December, 2020.
The ammunition, he said, were concealed with other goods and household items in a passenger vehicle: Toyota Sienna with reg no: DKA 237 DW along Nwezenyi Ikom Road Cross River.
The vehicle, he said, was intercepted based on credible and timely intelligence.
He added: “Only God knows what would have happened if these cartridges had got to their destination unchecked, considering the fragile security of the Nation: from Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, banditry to insurgency.”
Yusuf further said that the seized ammunition fell under schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff, which its importation was absolutely prohibited.
Other seized items included 1,215 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each mostly concealed in bags of beans, maize and groundnut seeds all with the aim of deceiving officers, 38 Jumbo bales of used clothing, 204 cartons of imported tomatoes and four used exotic vehicles including one new bullet proof Toyota Landcruiser 2019 model (without end-user certificate), two Toyota Hilux 2016 and 2015 respectively, one Mercedes Benz ML350 2015, and other controlled pharmaceutical products at various locations.
He announced that three suspects were arrested in connection with these different seizures.
He attributed this achievement to the leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd) and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He commended them for their efforts in recognizing hard work, dedication and commitment.
“Without the Management motivation and necessary logistics support, we won’t have attained this feat within this short period,” he stated.
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