Customs to embark on aggressive anti-smuggling operations on vehicles

The Nigeria Custom Service has announced that it would soon begin to take drastic actions against vehicle smuggling in the country.

Hameed Ibrahim Ali, Comptroller-General of Customs has, however,  approved a grace period of one month, between Monday 13th March to Wednesday 12th April 2017 for owners of all vehicles within the Country whose customs duty has not been paid, to do so or loose them.

“The CGC therefore calls on all persons in possession of such vehicles to take advantage of the grace period to pay appropriate duties on them, as there will be an aggressive anti-smuggling operation to seize as well as prosecute owners of such smuggled vehicles after the deadline of Wednesday 12th April, 2017,”  Joseph Attah, Acting Public Relations Officer said in a statement which he signed on behalf of the CGC.

“Consequently, all motor dealers and private owners of such vehicles are advised to visit the nearest Customs Zonal Office to pay the appropriate Customs Duty on them.”

According to the service, the Four Zonal Offices of the Nigeria Customs Service are: Zone A Headquarters, No. 1 Harvey Road, Yaba, Lagos; Zone B Headquarters, Kabala Doki, Kaduna; Zone C Headquarters, Nigeria Ports Authority, Port Harcourt and Zone D Headquarters, Yelwa Tudu Road, Bauchi State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all private car owners who are not sure of the authenticity of their vehicles customs documents can also approach the Zonal Offices to verify with a view to complying with the provision of the law,” the Comptroller-General of Customs further warned.