The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri, said on Thursday that it has intercepted 5,200 live ammunitions including cartridges of 30GR 70mm Calibre and various contraband with duty paid value (DPV) of N378,751,935.00 between November 23rd to December 27th 2020.
Similarly, the unit also recovered N7,557,731.00 from demand notices on goods with false declaration, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that were meant for the coffers of Federal Government of Nigeria, bringing the total to N386,309,666.00 within the period under review.
According to a statement signed by Jerry Attah, public relations officer of the Unit, Yusuf Lawal, controller of Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’, expressed concern over the trends in smuggling of arms and ammunition in recent times.
He said the weapon was concealed with other goods and household items in a passenger vehicle ‘Toyota Sienna’ with registration number DKA 237 DW, and was intercepted along Nwezenyi Ikom Road Cross River, based on credible and timely intelligence.
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“Only God knows what would have happened if these cartridges get to its destination unchecked, considering the fragile security of the nation: from armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry to insurgency. The seized ammunition fall under schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff, which its importation is absolutely prohibited,” Lawal stated.
He listed other seized items to include 1,215 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice 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 Land Cruiser 2019 model (without end-user certificate); 2016 and 2015 Toyota Hilux; one 2015 ML350 Mercedes Benz, and other controlled pharmaceutical products at various locations.
Lawal, who attributed the achievement to Customs management’s motivation and necessary logistics support, disclosed that three suspects were arrested in connection to these different seizures.
While commending the officers of the Unit for thwarting the antics of some dare devil smugglers/economic saboteurs, he further charged his officers to be professional and diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities in the year 2021.
He warned all economic saboteurs or would-be smugglers who see New Year as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business as the unit has devised other preemptive strategies that would give them run for their monies and count their loses.
