By Thompson ABISOLA
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Owerri said it confiscated smuggled goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N385.18 million in the last one month.
Its Comptroller, Compt. Kayode Olusemire, made this known on Thursday in its Benin Office while taking journalists round the goods confiscated along Benin axis.
He said 12 vehicles including five bullet proof exotic cars and other contraband were confiscated because the owners refused to pay the mandatory customs duties.
He said three arrests were made in connection with the seized items, adding that suspects had been granted administrative bail.
“Today there is a paradigm shift in the operations of the service. People who bring in goods into the country should be prepared to pay their duties,” he said.
Olusemire identified other seized items to include a Toyota Rava with DPV of N9.73 million, a Mercedes Benz GLE 450 worth N26.05 million and a Mercedez Benz G-Wagon Armoured (Bullet Proof) with DPV of N68.53 million.
Also confiscated is a Forde Edge valued at N16.83 million, a Toyota Highlander with DPV of N16.19 million, a Ford transit bus carrying 40 bags of rice.
He said the DPV of both Ford and the rice was N2.52 million.
A Toyota Armoured Bullet Land Cruiser 2016 Model with DPV of N40.10 million, a Range Rover Autobiography-Bullet Proof worth N76.42 million and 100 bags of rice were among the items seized.
The comptroller said a truck and Ford transit bus loaded with 918 bags of rice both worth N7.221 million, a Nissan Bus with 741 bags of rice valued at N18.97 million and those of the Nissan amounting to N9.53 million all amounted N28.49 million.
He said another Mack Truck carrying 509 bags of rice, Ford transit bus with 100 bags of rice and another Ford transit bus with 97 bags of rice were among the confiscated items.
Olusemire said men of the customs would continue to check nefarious activities of smugglers. He said 200 of the seized bags of rice were concealed with several bunches of banana which were contraband.
The comptroller said the Federal Government now had a favourable policy on agriculture meant to encourage the local producers and improve the economy of the nation.
