OWERRI – The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recorded 363 seizures of illegally imported items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.80 billion in 2014.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
It also recovered an under payment of N71.76 million.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
The Area Controller, Mr Victor Dimka, made this known while briefing newsmen in Owerri on Friday.
He noted that the unit recorded 199 seizures in 2013.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Dimka said that the unit made 104 arrests in 2014 and had 134 cases pending in the court as against 31 arrests recorded in 2013 with 20 cases in court.
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He said that vehicles topped the list of the seized items, totaling 237, with 209 vehicles seized as a result of fake documents while 28 vehicles were abandoned.
Dimka said that high number of seizures was recorded in April, September and December, while high DPV were made in April and September.
He attributed this to increased desperation of smugglers during the months.
Dimka gave the assurance that there would be continued intensive and aggressive patrol operations to nip activities of smugglers in the bud in 2015.
He called on Nigerians to volunteer relevant information to the unit that could lead to tracking of smugglers.
The official said that the identity of such informants would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
Dimka advised those still engaging in smuggling to desist from it, saying that the service had no sympathy for unpatriotic acts.
He promised that genuine importers and their agents would continue to enjoy the support and benevolence of the NCS in line with its mandate to facilitate legitimate trade. (NAN)