NCS Seizes N1.7bCargo, Records N12.1b Underpayments in Zone C

Underpayments worth N12, 040, 949 were also recovered in the same month.

The service said the results recorded in the month under review were sequel to the fact that it has remained resolute in addressing the problem smuggling has posed to the wellbeing of the nation by establishing and implementing measures to prevent and mitigate the activities of smugglers in the zone.

“These measures have continued to yield the desired results in the zone”, it said.

These were disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C, Owerri, Imo State, Comptroller Amajam Bukar in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, ASC I Chioma Onuoha.

Onuoha quoted Bukar saying that from January 2017 till date the unit has made 91 seizures with duty paid value (DPV) of N1, 735, 665, 304.

The CAC attributed the feat to the hard work of officers and men of the unit with support from the management of the NCS and the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retired).

According to the statement, Bukar charged intending importers and traders to be honest in their declarations affirming that any goods falsely declared is liable to seizure in accordance with the law and government policies.

He debunked allegations of high handedness stressing that his operatives carry out their operations guided by the law.

On the challenges facing the service, the CAC noted that a significant hindrance to the delivery of its mandate was the manning of the waterways.

He explained that most of the smuggling takes place in the waterways in Mfum and Akwa Ibom State.

“The zone does not have adequate vessels to match the ones used by smugglers on the waterways”, he said.

He however assured that the management of the service has purchased sea going vessels and are presently equipping them in order to check smuggling activities along the waterways.