The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/ Osun Command on Wednesday said it has arrested prohibited items worth twenty-eight million, eight hundred and eighty-nine thousand, eight hundred and forty-eight naira, seventy-eight kobo (N28,889,848.79).
The items include fiveteen (15) vehicles laden with assorted contraband goods with a total duty paid value (DPV) of 23,320,190.00.
Customs Area Controller (CAC), in charge of Oyo and Osun States, Mr. Emmanuel Udo-Aka while briefing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital said the vehicles were used to conceal the prohibited items which include second hand clothing, foreign rice and other contraband goods.
Udo-Aka said the detentions were effected on Saturday 17th June along Saki axis in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State through a synergy with the headquarters Compliance Team and Customs Intelligence Unit of Oyo axis though no suspect was arrested.
He said that another MAN Diesel Truck with registration number LSD 445 XU concealing 172 pieces of used tyres and 272 pieces of vehicle wheels was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on June 9th 2017.
He said the duty paid value of the truck is 2,881,016.00, the used tyres duty paid value is 1,100,757.000 while the duty paid value of the vehicle wheels is N1,587,936.00.
He however said “The overall duty paid value of all the arrested items is twenty-eight million, eight hundred and eighty-nine thousand, eight hundred and forty-eight naira, seventy-eight kobo (N28,889,848.79).
“In keeping faith with this noble promise, the Oyo/Osun Area Command had initiated new anti-smuggling strategies which led to remarkable exploits as evidenced in the arrest of fiveteen (15) vehicles laden with assorted contraband goods with a total duty paid value of 23,320,139.00 which are on display today. The arrested vehicles were used to conceal prohibited items notable second hand clothing, foreign rice and other contraband goods. However, no suspect was arrested based on their smartness as they took to their heels and eloped into bush as soon as they sighted the eagle-eyed Customs officers.
“The arrested vehicles include the under listed, One peugeot 406 2008 model with DPV of 1, 158,780.00, One Mitsubishi Lancer model with a DPV of 1,158,780.00, One Golf 1999 model with DPV of 1,158,780.00, Three Toyota Corolla 2005 model with a DPV of 3,476,340.00, One Toyota Corolla 2005 Model with DPV of 2,027,856.00, One Toyota Corolla 2009 model with DPV of 3,331,493.00, One Honda Civic 2000 model with DPV of 1,158,780.00, One Peugeot 2008 model with DPV of DPV of 1,158,780.00, One Volkswagen Sharon 1999 model with DPV of 1,158,780.00, One Toyota Camry 2001 model with DPV of 1,158,780.00, One Toyota Venza 2009 model with DPV of 2,452,408.00, One Lexus RX 350 Jeep 2007 model with DPV of 2,076,291.00, One Nissan Pathfinder 2002 model with DPV of 1,861,291.00.
” It is worrisome to note that some unpatriotic Nigerians still remain unrepentant despite the stern warning against smuggling and even as they continue to lose. It is also disheartening to discover that some members of the public especially the elders do come to plead for the release of impounded contraband goods.
“While we will not tolerate smuggling either from the public or from the officers who might want to connived with the smugglers, I want to make it crystal clear to the entire public that the period of 30 days of grace that was given for the public to pay duties for vehicles that were smuggled has expired. The grace period ended on the 19th of May 2017. We also want to inform the public that anybody whose goods have been arrested by the Customs should come forth with the genuine documents and claim ownership within thirty days after which goods are liable for seizure.
