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Ports: Container Flyers Go Underground By Francis Ugwoke A syndicate specializing in container 'flying', a parlance for taking containers out of the port system without payment of duties may have gone underground. It was gathered that following new measures introduced by the new customs management since inception, the business of 'flying' containers has been a difficult one. In the past, importers who had difficulty in clearing any container engaged the services of a syndicate which specialization is in removing containers out of the port without going through any official process. Such containers could be the ones which came without the mandatory Clean Report of Inspection (CRI), or may have consignments which are contraband. Under government's fiscal policies, all imports are expected to go through pre-shipment inspection after which CRIs are issued on such goods. Between 2002 and last year, there were many cases of container flying, as government's import prohibition list increased. Sometimes, importers resort to 'flying' when duty or 'settlement'on such goods is considered too high. When the Service sometimes last year discovered some contraband goods at about two locations in Lagos which were suspected to have been imported by some Chinese businessmen, there was the suspicion that the containers were 'flown out' of the port. The Service discovered that there was no trace that duties were paid or that the goods were covered by CRIs. Container flying according to our source is sometimes carried out in the night or on broad day light under a special arrangement. It is said that fees charged by the syndicate range from N100,000 to N200,000 to fly any 20-foot container. Except in a situation of hopelessness, only very few importers would want their containers to be flown because of the attendant risk. Among the reason why container flying is reducing is because of the fear by government agency officials on the possibility of such information leaking, particularly as there has been changes in duty posts among customs officers and other agencies' personnel. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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