Skip to main content

Customs Intercepts 5,200 Live Ammunitions, Contraband Goods Worth N386m


The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri, has intercepted 5,200 live ammunition, 1,215 bags of foreign rice, a bullet proof Toyota Landcruser SUV and other contraband goods worth N386 million. 

The Controller, Mr Yusuf Lawal, who confirmed this on Thursday January 7, while addressing the media in Owerri, Imo State capital said the seizures were made between November 23 and December 27, 2020. 


"Having intensified its anti-smuggling operations, the unit intercepted 5,200 live ammunitions (cartridges of 30GR 70mm Calibre ) and various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Five Naira only (N378,751,935.00) between November 23rd to December 27th 2020," he stated. 

He said that the DPV of the bullet proof Landcruser and other three vehicles seized during the period was N221 million.

 

"Similarly, the unit through its interventions recovered Seven Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty One Naira only (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 payment that are meant for the coffers of Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative sum of Three Hundred and Eighty Six Million, Three Hundred and Nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty Six Naira only (N386,309,666.00) within the month under review making it a landslide in recent times."

Lawal  expressed concerns over the trends in arms and ammunition smuggling in recent times making reference to the interception in Lagos in 2017, in kwara in 2018 and just recently in Kebi using different routes and now the interception of 5,200 live ammunition cartridges (30GR 70mm Calibre) in December 2020 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, based on credible and timely intelligence.

"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 Comptroller stated, adding that the seized ammunitions fall under schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff, which its importation is absolutely prohibited.

Other seized items include 1,215 bags of foreign parboiled rice 50kg each mostly concealed in bags of beans, maize and groundnut seeds all with the aim of deceiving our officers, 38 Jumbo bales of used clothing, and 204 cartons of imported tomatoes.

Others are 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. Three suspects were arrested in connection to these different seizures.

Comptroller Lawal attributed this achievement to the leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service 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 feat."







READ ALSO: China Locks Down A City Of 11 Million People To Contain A Coronavirus Flare-up

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

55-Year-Old Man Arrested For Defiling Neighbor’s 10-Year-Old Girl

A 55-year old man, Jonas Obuobi, has landed in trouble in Lagos after he was reportedly caught engaging his neighbour’s 10-year old girl in sex and was arrested. The incident happened at Etimagu Street, Bariga area of Lagos where they reside. Police sources alleged that the suspect, Jonas, lured the victim into his apartment where he confused her, removed her pant and eventually defiled her in the process. However, while in the act, their neighbours caught him and the matter was reported to the Police who arrested and handed him to the Gender Section of the Command, Ikeja, Lagos for further investigation. During investigation, he denied raping her but reportedly saying that he did not force her into the act.However, the Police found him culpable because of the age of the victim and later charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence. The Court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Mr. Christopher John, asked the Court to refer the matter to t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Should Arsenal Sell Eddie Nketiah To West Ham

 Once he hit the U18s he was known as a prolific goalscorer, and was quickly promoted to the U23s, where he carried on scoring despite his age, and Arsene Wenger introduced him to the senior side. Fans started to take notice when he came on as a sub in a League Cup game against Norwich and scored both goals and we were excited for his future. But that promise has never quite materialised. Eddie has continued to be prolific against Smaller sides (i.e. League Cup, Europa League and England U21 qualifiers) but in the League he has managed just 4 goals in 33 appearances, although mostly off the bench. The superstriker never seems to emerge, but I guess we have to remember he is still only 21 and has rarely had a run in the senior side, but I don’t think fans are as excited about him displacing Aubameyang or Lacazette any more. So, the rumours today are that West Ham are considering making an offer for Eddie, after selling Hillier to Ajax for 20m, and we could probably do with selling a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arsenal's £72m Enigma: Arteta Right To Demand More From Mercurial Pepe

The Gunners' record signing may have scored his third goal of the season on Thursday night but his manager wants consistency across 90 minutes. Mikel Arteta’s answer was clear when asked what Nicolas Pepe needed to show in order to earn himself a regular starting spot in Arsenal's Premier League team. “Consistency,” said the Arsenal boss, when quizzed on the Gunners’ record signing, following Thursday’s night’s 4-1 Europa League win against Molde at the Emirates Stadium. It was a game that perfectly encapsulated the enigma that is Pepe. The £72 million ($95m) man was infuriating at times - especially in the first half - but just as he had done against Dundalk a week earlier, he popped up with an excellent goal. He also went on to add an assist for Joe Willock, a late strike which sealed a comfortable victory for Arteta’s side and all but booked Arsenal’s passage into the knockout stages. It was a classic Pepe performance and more evidence of why he remains such a puzzle in nort...
Post a Comment
Read more