The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Commander, Mr David Chikan, at the Custom House Ibadan briefed news men on the activities of the Command for the second time since his assumption of duty in Ibadan in October 2017.
Chikan while briefing journalists on activities of the command said his men arrested four persons in connection with smuggling of some prohibited items into the country and stated that the four suspects will soon be charged to court.
Speaking further, 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, 265.7k) 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 an increase of 19.48% in the revenue collection over last year”
According to the area commander, anti-smuggling activities of the command within the last eleven months have yielded tremendous results with One 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).
“The command during the months of November and December 2017, successfully recorded the following seizures: One used DAF 85 truck carrying 500 bags of smuggled 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.
He did not fail to commend the effort of the officers and men of the command, the collaboration with other units such as the Custom Headquarters Compliance Team, Federal Operations Unit and the Custom Intelligence Unit.
He further solicited for the support of the media to educate and inform members of the public on the ills of smuggling and the need to desist from such practice, as the Command will not fail to make them face the full wrath of the law.
Mr Chikan, however, encouraged all genuine importers and exporters within the command of their unflinching support in the smooth running of their legitimate 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”
Pictures by Olawale Awe for IbadanCityAnnouncer
