The Federal Operatives Unit (FOU) Zone C of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Owerri, Imo State has recorded yet another feat in its war against smuggling of illegally imported goods. The unit seized a bulletproof vehicle and 100 others valued at over N441 million
This is coming barely one week after the zone seized 42 various contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N197,385,747.00.
The operatives arrested 14 suspects in connection with the contraband seized with a total DPV of N441,685,968.00.
Ananalysis of the items confiscated indicate that 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry product (Chicken, turkey and gizzard) which were concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks, with used Jacuzzi bathing2 tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags, and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck, to beat the eagle-eye Customs officers.
The products, which were impounded in the Benin, Agbor and Bayelsa/Port-Harcourt axis between August 13 and 14, 2015 have a DPV of N89,338,400.00.
Besides, 100 vehicles with fake documents were impounded along Benin Express-way, Agbor-Asaba axis and Aba/Owerri highway of which 15 are latest models of vehicles ranging from Toyota Camry (bulletproof car) 2015model without End-user Certificate, six Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner, Lexus LX 570 and M/Benz CLS 350, all 2014/2015 model worth N346,347,568.00.
The Customs Area Controller for the unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor David, made this known to newsmen when the seized items were displayed. He said four suspects were arrested over the illegally imported frozen poultry products and eight for the smuggled vehicles.
The destruction of the imported frozen poultry products were carried out in the presence of some officials of NESREA, NAFDAC and DSS in line with the recently launched “Operation Hawk Descend” to check smuggling of imported frozen chicken, turkey and other poultry products by the Customs management.
Dimka said 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6 million was seized by his officers at Ikom boundary in Cross River State, with two suspects involved in the shady deal. The suspects are helping the Customs in their investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items.
The Sun
