The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command said it has arrested no fewer than four persons in connection with smuggling of some prohibited items into the country.
The four suspects who will soon be charged to court according to the Customs Area Controller in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Mr. Elisha David Chikan were arrested and subsequently granted conditional bail.
Chikan while briefing journalists on activities of the command at a press briefing on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, however called on journalists not to relent in helping the command in educating and informing members of the public about the ills of smuggling.
He declared that the command had generated the sum of sixteen billion, one hundred and eighty two million, two hundred and six thousand, two hundred and sixty five naira, seven kobo (N16, 182, 206.7k) in the last eleven months.
He said, “The command has been doing very well in the area of revenue collection which comes purely from excise factories and few imports. The command generated the sum of sixteen billion, one hundred and eighty two million, two hundred and six thousand, two hundred and sixty five naira, seven kobo (N16, 182, 206.7k) as against the thirteen billion, five hundred and forty three million, eight hundred and two thousand, five hundred and eighty nine naira, three kobo (13, 543,802,589.3k) generated within the same period in 2016. This shows and increase of 19.48% in the revenue collection over last year”.
Speaking on anti-smuggling activities of the command within the last eleven months, Chikan said, “During the same period, the command made a total of hundred and eleven (111) seizures with a duty paid value (DPV) of two hundred and ten million, one hundred and eighty eight thousand, one hundred and thirty four naira, twenty four kobo (210, 188,134.24).
Chikan said, “The command during the months of November and December 2017, successfully recorded the following seizures: One used DAF 85 truck carrying 500 bags of sumggled foreign rice, One used DAF truck carrying 300 bags of foreign rice, one used MACK Trailer with 1000 pieces used tyres and 75 bales used clothes, One used DAF Leyland carrying 500 bags of foreign rice, 200 bags of smuggles foreign rice, One used Mazda Bus carrying 20 bags of foreign rice, One used FORD Bus with 30 bales of used clothing, One used DAF Truck carrying 500 bags of foreign rice, One used DAF Truck carrying 500 bags of foreign rice, One used DAF truck carrying 300 bags of foreign rice, One used AUDI 80 (Tokunbo Car), One used Toyota Corolla (Tokunbo Car), One used Ford Bus carrying 50 bags of foreign rice, 30 bales of used clothes.
“The duty paid value (DPV) of the seized vehicles is put at N 11,066,983.48k. The duty paid value of goods is put at N 53,116,021.29k. The total duty paid value of all the seized items is N 64, 183, 00. 77k.
“At this juncture, I call on the media not to relent in helping us to educate and inform members about the ills of smuggling and the need to desist from such practice, as we will not fail to make them face the full wrath of the law.
“However all genuine importers and exporters within the command will have the support of the service in facilitating their businesses. For the avoidance of doubt, the ban on the importation of rice and used cars (Tokunbo) through the nation’s land borders is still in force”.
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