AGAIN, FOU, ‘A’ SWOOP ON SMUGGLERS, RECORDS N4O.144M SEIZURES IN TWO WEEKS

By Innocent Orok

The Customs operatives at the Federal Operations Unit ( FOU ), Zone ‘A’, Lagos has again descended hard on smugglers, intercepting contraband goods and others concealed in gas cylinders worth N40,144,25O….

According to a release signed by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah said that the Ag. Controller of the Unit, Deputy Comptroller Usman Yahaya in his unrelenting efforts has continued to yield more result in its anti-smuggling drive of the Unit since he took over the command barely a month ago.

It could be recalled barely two weeks ago, after the Comptroller-General of Customs , Col Hameed Ali ( rtd) working visit to Lagos where he showcased various seizures made by FOU A worth over N10Billion Naira, the Unit has again intercepted 1,393 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, 187 jerry cans/66 drums of foreign vegetable oil, 625 Cartons of poultry products and 50 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil from unapproved routes within the Ogun State axis , between 5th -17th February2020.
The seizures were made based on surveillance and routine patrol.

The rice, vegetable Oil and poultry products were conveyed in twelve different vehicles which were also concealed with gas cylinders.
The cumulative duty paid value of the seized items is N40,144,250.00.

Yahaya said the desperate act by these dare devil smugglers concealing edible items in a gas cylinder further justifies the hard chase by operatives of Customs.

The breakdown of the seized itemsare Rice N27,860,000.00, Vegetable Oil N6,284,250.00 and frozen Poultry N6,000,000.00).
DC Usman Yahaya warned that unless the economic saboteurs repent from their unscrupulous activities, they will continue to count their losses.
He also advised legitimate traders to be compliant in their declarations as the unit is ever ready to facilitate legitimate trade in line with world best practices.

Yahaya , however thanked the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management team of the Nigeria Customs Service for providing necessary logistics and motivation that led to this feats.

He called on all meaningful Nigerians to support the Service’s fight against smuggling activities by providing intelligence that could assist the Unit achieve more monumental seizures.