The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri has seized 307 contraband worth N4,277,885.21 in the year 2016.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Onuigbo Ifeoma, said the figure is a combination of both the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,985,931,643.00 and an underpayment recovered as revenue of N770,346,242.00.
“The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Comptroller Mohammed, Uba G. who made this known while giving an annual report for the year 2016 said that the unit which has since driven many smugglers out of their illicit businesses consequent upon its sustained aggressive onslaught against smuggling; arrested a total of 234 suspects while 24 cases are still pending in court in connection with the seizures.
“A breakdown of the prohibited items seized include:
169 motor vehicles with a DPV of N1,013,005,101.21;
2,725 cartons of narcotics (Indian hemp/hard drugs) with a DPV of #366,835,000.00 and 1,759 pairs, 85 cartons and 68 sacks/bales of foot wears with a DPV of #28,234,060.00.
“Others are: 7,795 soap/detergents/toiletries with a DPV of #58,889,181; 107,006 cartons of imported frozen poultry products with a DPV of N1,402,086,836.00; 1,018 pieces and 561 bales of bags/suitcases which had a DPV of N134,964,320.00 in addition to 5,794 rethread and used pneumatic tyres bearing a DPV of N97,597,620.00.
“The rest are: 50 cartons and 147 pieces of beverages/confectionary/juices with a DPV of N3,248,570.00; 14,006 bags of rice which has a DPV of N447,850,240.00; 2,333 cartons and 1,598 pieces of furniture and parts thereof with a DPV of N173,048,334.00 and 273 cartons of 2 litres of vegetable oil with a DPV of N9,801,000.00.
“The unit also seized 1,089 pieces of machinery/mechanical appliances/parts which had a DPV of #7,837,498.00 as well as 2,484 electrical/electronics/parts whose DPV stood at N3,886,600 and 951 bales, 470 cartons and 18 sacks of other goods with DPV of N239,441,283.00 as among other seizures made within the year,” said the statement.
This, the unit said was in contrast to the total seizure made in the preceding year (2015) which recorded a total sum of N2,839,404,837 comprising a DPV of N2,709,807,437.00 and an underpayment recovered of N129,597,400.00.
