By Bon Peters
The Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri, of the Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted contraband and unregistered products with a Duty paid Value (DPV) of over N505 million.
Addressing a press conference in Benin, the Edo State capital recently, the Controller, FOU Zone C, Comptroller BA Balogun, said, the briefing was aimed at informing the public about the recent milestone successes, that the Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri has achieved.
He said the Federal Operations Units (FOU) Zone C, Owerri has continued to work “as a unit, team, and family, particularly in the areas of legitimate trade facilitation, increasing revenue collections, collaborating with relevant security agencies and critical stakeholders, enforcing government fiscal policy, and suppressing of smuggling activities.”
Balogun insisted that the unit under his watch and the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, BA Adeniyi, would continue to deploy an intelligence-led strategy in their day-to-day operations, which, he noted, has yielded tremendous successes in their interventions and anti-smuggling drive.
The FOU Zone C boss noted that during the period under review, the officers and men of the unit “have exhibited the highest level of professionalism and relentless efforts in the implementation of government fiscal policy by enforcing the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 as it relates to import, export, revenue generation, security of lives and properties.”
He said that items arrested for investigation include: Dry salted Donkey skin, made up of 3022 pieces packed in sacks; used tyres, used clothing in bales and bags, bags of foreign parboiled rice in 50kg and 25kg, foreign wine in cartons without NAFDAC registration number, foreign cosmetics, 58 cartons without NAFDAC registration number.
Also seized were, foreign Geisha in cartons, bags of woven empty 50kg sacks loaded, two used trucks, Mercedes trucks, a Scania truck, one used Toyota Tundra SUV and one used J5 Bus among others, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N505,520,886.00 (five hundred and five million, five hundred and twenty thousand, eight hundred and eighty-six naira only).
Comptroller Balogun emphasized that the unit remained committed to the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, BA Adeniyi on consolidation of successes achieved, collaborative engagement with all relevant security agencies and critical stakeholders, and innovative ideas to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in customs operations.
On inter-agency collaboration, he said that the seized Cannabis Sativa would be handed over to NDLEA, whereas the medicament is to be handed over to NAFDAC, and the seized Dry Salted Donkey Skin would be handed over to NESREA, among others.
He attributed the timely successes and achievements to the purposeful leadership style of the Comptroller General of Customs and a high level of professionalism, commitment, and teamwork among his officers and men of the unit.
He vowed continued commitment to sanitizing the zone of any form of illicit trade activities and facilitating legitimate trade, while also using the opportunity “to thank the amiable CGC and his entire management team for the dynamic leadership styles and qualities.
“We call on our traders and stakeholders to be compliant, as our officers are professionally trained to checkmate the activities of non-compliant traders and block likely areas of revenue leakages,” he said.
Comptroller Balogun commended the media for their relentless efforts in making sure that the anti-smuggling activities, innovations and the giant strides of the unit and the customs service in general are carried out across the nation.
He further even urged all well-meaning Nigerians to support the Customs Service with necessary information and intelligence that could assist it in curbing the smuggling of illicit goods and substances into the nation.
