By Eromosele Abiodun
The Customs Area Command Tincan Island Port has announced that it intercepted twenty Containers of Vegetable Oil wrongly declared as Disodium Phosphate.
This declaration was made by the Customs Area Comptroller Bashar, Y. U, during a routine visit to the terminal.
He stated that a certain clearing agent, Patwed Investments Company allegedly presented three Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) with C-No. 102101, purporting to be having seven containers of 7588pk of Disodium Phosphate, while another seven containers and six respectively had different packages of the same consignment – Disodium Phosphate.
The Comptroller stated that in the course of examination with other relevant agencies, it was discovered that none of the containers had Disodium Phosphate other than 25kg kegs of Vegetable Oil.
Answering questions on the implications of such infraction, the Comptroller maintained that his Command will stop at nothing in its resolve to ensure that 100 per cent examination was conducted on all cargoes in order to nip infractions in the bud in line with the change mantra of the federal government and the Comptroller General of Customs.
Speaking further, the Comptroller pointed out that painstaking investigation would be conducted to identify those behind the illicit act for prosecution. He said that the importation contravened the import regulations, particularly sections 46 & 47 of the Customs and Excise Management act, CAP C 45 Laws of the Federation as amended.
He commended the officers for demonstrating due diligence and professionalism in the discharge of their official functions even as he vowed to deal decisively with non-compliant importers or their agents.
