Customs uncovers use of Covid-19 branded  vehicle for smuggling

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  has arrested a Covid-19 branded vehicle used in  smuggling in frozen chicken into the country.

The unit frowned that despite its  efforts to discourage Nigerians from such act, many have vowed not to give up rather devising  new strategies by the day.

The COVID-19 vehicle ladened with smuggled frozen chicken

In a release signed by the Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the unit, Jerry Attah, the eagle eye officers  intercepted the vehicle that was moving under the guise of essential duty, but was unfortunately found to be smuggling cartons of frozen chicken into the country from Benin Republic.

According to the release, the Area Controller of the unit, Usman Yahaya said the vehicle was arrested along Ijebu Ode expressway based on intelligence of the  officers who were on routine patrol at the axis.

Yahaya said, “the officers were professional enough to intercept the vehicle which was believed to be used in the movement of essential commodities but was surprise to see that it was used for illegal activities such as movement of contraband.

“We have arrested the vehicle and investigation has commenced to get to the root and unravel other atrocities that may have been committed using the essential duty tag.”

Also speaking on the activities of the command in the last four months, the Controller said between January to April 2020. contraband worth N12.7 billion were intercepted from smugglers

He stated that the unit also paid a whopping N1.14 billion into the Treasury Single Account of the federal government from Debit Note (DN) on intercepted containers from Lagos seaport, voluntary payment of Customs duty on vehicles, auction sales from PMS among others

Stating further, he said 25 units of fairly used vehicles worth N108million, 5,644 cartons of frozen chicken worth N54.1million were intercepted, 9,843 bags of 50kg smuggled parboiled rice worth N130.4 million and sacks of textile materials worth N94 million were seized in the month under review.

Others are, N14 million worth of used tyre, 3,764 kegs of smuggled vegetables oil worth N69.2 million, 8,365 litres of smuggled petrol also known as (PMS) and AGO also known as Diesel worth N35 million.

The Customs boss said, “We wont relent on our anti-smuggling fight especially at this time the government is preaching diversification into the agric sector due to the fall in price of oil in the international market which has affected government revenue base.”

“So, we will ensure that smuggling is reduced to the barest minimum and not allow to fester as that could be injurious to our economy and wellbeing as a country,” he said.

The FOU A, an anti-smuggling arm of the Customs Service saddled with the responsibility of suppressing smuggling in the six states of the South-West of the country