Joy Anyim
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, has intercepted 113 exotic vehicles wth a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N1. 3 billion.
Disclosing this, on Wednesday, was the Zonal Controller, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed, during a press briefing at the Headquarters in Ikeja.
Reviewing seizures made from February 6 to April 16, 2019, Mohammed said over 23 trailers of rice, 600 cartons of codeine syrup, 1,000 sachets of Tramadol and many other contraband goods were also seized by the zone.
Speaking on how the vehicles were intercepted, the controller revealed that the vehicles which included a 2019 Range Rover Autobiography and other bullet proof vehicles were hidden in the bush around Sagamu, while others were intercepted in car shops through intelligence that filtered to the zone.
According to Mohammed, “ A total of 113 vehicles were intercepted during the period under review.
“They are all exotic vehicles and some were even bullet proof cars. We have a 2019 Range Rover Autobiography amongst the seized vehicle.
“Fifty-three of the vehicles have been detained pending when their owners can produce documents to prove they were not smuggled through the land borders.
“The other 60 vehicles are outright seizures. While some were gotten in the bushes, others were from town.”
He further disclosed that some of the prohibited pharmaceutical products that were seized had no NAFDAC registration numbers.
Calling on all well-meaning members of the public to partner with the Customs to put an end to the importation of substandard and prohibited drugs, the Comptroller continued, “ The 398 cartons of Really Extra Diclofenac had no NAFDAC number, the 49 cartons of Paracetamol injection also did not have NAFDAC registration number.
“We know that the government frowns at the importation of Tramadol and codeine due to the abuse it is prone to.
“Many of our youths, and even the elderly, have become victims of drug abuse. At this point.
“I would want to recommend that we start dealing with the problem from the root.
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“ Do you know that those who import and sell this prohibited drugs have devised a new strategy, the packaging has changed. The 1,000 sachets of Tramadol was not in a pack, but in a very attractive sachet that will be difficult for anyone to recognise at first sight. it was even packed in a bag.
“We, as a people, need to stand up for ourselves. If we stop patronising illegal drug outlets, the importers of this dangerous drugs will have no option but to stop the importation.
“Let people also give us information, we will act on such information.”
Lamenting the continued importation of foreign rice, Mohammed said it was time for Nigerians to have a rethink.
He stated that some of the seized bags of rice were concealed in a branded cement silo, while others were concealed using packs of soft drinks and disposable cups.
Maintaining that Nigeria is self-sufficient in the production of rice, the comptroller called for all to desist from patronising smuggled imported rice, but instead buy and eat locally produced rice.
While stating the readiness of the command to cripple the activities of smugglers in the zone, Mohammed said officers and men of the zone are now better positioned to carry out anti-smuggling operations and also block all revenue leakages.
