By Tony Nzekwe
Committed to enforce the fiscal policies of the Hameed Ali led Customs Administration, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Port Harcourt Area 1 Command, has impounded five consignments with duty paid value of N112,682, 893.90, restates commitment to anti-smuggling and raked into the federation account over #92.3 Billion in 2022.
This information was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Comptroller Ibrahim Muhammad at the command’s port terminal while parading proceeds of illegal importation.
In his remarks, Compt. Muhammad, said, “The consignments consisted of four containers with 2,965 (25 litres) gallons of vegetable oil concealed alongside items such as granite stones, cartons of ceramic tiles, rolls of electrical cable wire, Jotun cover, and paints amongst other dutiable items.”
Adding, “Upon credible intelligence, some contraband was uncovered and investigation showed that the containers were largely vegetable oil concealed in ceramic tiles, and some home appliances.”
His words: “In view of this, the four containers are thereby seized, investigation is ongoing, we know the agents are licenced and customs have control over their operations.”
The CAC reaffirmed, “A case of seizure has been appropriately reported while we await further report as soon as investigation is concluded.”
The Comptroller also said that 481 Bales of second-hand clothing’s, 700 packages of Machetes and 107 packages of shovels also made the list of seizures.
Compt. Muhammad, reiterated, “Some of the items like the vegetable oil and second-hand clothes were contraband, shovels and machetes were detained pending provision of an End-user-certificate from Office of the Security Adviser especially considering sensitivity to the forthcoming general elections.”
However, the CAC advised trading public/stakeholders not to allow themselves to be lured into committing crimes of economc sabotage because of ignorance of the extant laws guiding import/export of goods are not excuses.
In the same vein, the Comptroller also said, “The command generated a total sum of N92, 329,811,715.40 in the 2022 fiscal year as against the sum of N81, 313,484,986.60 generated in 2021.”
He noted that the surplus represented 12 per cent increase.
Comptroller Ibrahim Muhammad, also attributed the increased revenue to contributions of Port Harcourt International Airport and Excise duties from International Brewery and Nigeria Bottling Company.
