Contraband: Customs to Raid Warehouses, Markets
Economy
By Francis Ugwoke
Determined to bring to an end smuggling activities among importers, the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) has concluded arrangements to raid warehouses and markets for contraband goods.
A source close to the NCS told THISDAY that the move is to ensure that smugglers do not completely escape the wrath of the law even if they beat Customs checks.
The source said Customs decided to start markets, following the information that there were many prohibited goods now in the market.
It was gathered that at a recent meeting, the Anti-Smuggling arm of the Customs was challenged on the continued presence of many banned items by the new customs management.
The thinking of the Service is that importers who bring in these items do so by simply 'settling' some unscrupulous officers.
To check this trend, the Service believed that constant raids on warehouses and markets will discourage importers from bringing banned items.
It is also the thinking of the Customs management that such checks will equally discourage traders from patronizing such importers.
The management of the Service is surprised that several goods under prohibition list have found their way into the country in spite of the seizures of such goods," a senior NCS personel said.
According to the source, many importers still believed that they could have their way once they can 'settle' some officers.
The Service had in the past few months recorded several seizures running into billions of Naira.
About three weeks ago, the Service announced the seizure of 300 containers of scrap metals and teakwood at Tin Can Island port.
Similarly, the Service seized 395 packages of textile materials at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, running into hundreds of Millions of Naira.
Apart from this, two other seizures were also recorded by the Service at the Airpoprt, which include 299 and 300 packages, mainly textile makterials.
At Tin Can and Apapa ports, Kirikiri Liughter Terminal, Seme Border Stattion, several seizures running into millions of Naira have been recorded.
Describing the seizure of the 300 containers as the largest single seizure in the history of the Service, Comptroller-General of the Customs, Mr. Jacob Buba said that the attempt to smuggle the goods was contrary to the Export Prohibition Order in the country.
The containers were found stacked at Lagos/Niger and WASA/Cross Marine (SDV) terminals.
A breakdown of the seizure showed that 248 containers were scrap metals, while 52 were for teakwood found in the terminals belonging to WASA/Cross Marine and Lagos/Nigeria Shipping Company, multinational shipping agencies.
Buba disclosed that apart from the customs officers who have been suspended, the terminal mangers of the two shipping companies involved have been arrested and are undergoing interrogation.
He also announced that licences of the forwarding companies will be revoked in addition to imposition of appropriate sanctions and penalties.
All agencies and persons found to be connected with the crime, according to Buba will be prosecuted.
He recalled that a similar seizure of 52 containers consisting of scrap metals, teakwood and antiquities was made at the Maerskline terminal in Port Harcourt in April this year at the point of loading.
"The same shipping company had also attempted to facilitate the smuggling of 28 containers of scrap metals at Apapa last September", he said.
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