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Customs FOU impounds N50m goods, seeks partnership with communities

By Moses Ebosele
25 November 2015   |   3:02 am
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, the new Controller of the unit, Madugu Jubrin, in a statement explained that the zone has declared total war on smugglers.
Customs arrest 4 Chinese

customs. Photo: agronigeria

THE Federal Operations Unit (FOU), zone ‘A’ Ikeja has impounded goods worth over N50million.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, the new Controller of the unit, Madugu Jubrin, in a statement explained that the zone has declared total war on smugglers.

Jubrin, who assumed office on November 6, 2015 explained that modalities have been put in place to curtail the activities of smugglers.

According to Jubrin, items seized within one week of his assumption of office include 239 bales of second hand clothes valued at N10m; 1.120 cartons of 950mw of generators valued at N13million; 1,822 bags of rice valued at N11.8m and vegetable oil valued at N2.4million.
Others include 1,136 cartons of frozen poultry products valued at N6.8million and 42 parcels of Indian hemp valued at N2.01m.

Already, according to Jubrin, the Indian hemp parcels have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for appropriate action, pointing out that the gesture became pertinent in view of the need to enhance operational synergy with various agencies of government for a sustained relationship.
He said that the various seizures recorded in just one week of assuming office portray a lot of hope and expectations for the unit and service in general.

Jubrin pledged not to rest on his oars, adding that all-inclusive methodology involving the communities where the officers operate are being reached to improve on the relationship as well as synergy.
He said smuggling just like scavenging is a global phenomenon, which requires the cooperation of all Nigerians.

Jbrin said: “As a way of ensuring that very decisive steps are taken to decimate the smugglers, we have adopted several operational modalities for the actualization of expected results.
“Part of this includes but not limited to an all inclusive methodology involving the communities where we operate. We made frantic efforts to improve on the Customs Community Relationship (CCR) as well as synergy and collaboration with critical stakeholders.
“We believe that smuggling just like scavenging is a global phenomenon which requires the cooperation of all Nigerians particularly the media.

Generally speaking and in totality, the unit recorded four thousand, seven hundred and thirty three (4,733) different remarkable seizures, valued at forty five million, five hundred and eighty six thousand, nine hundred naira (N45, 586,900.00) in just one week of my resumption. “This portrays a lot of hope and expectation for the unit and service in general. I will not rest on my oars.
“I am happy to inform you that in the early hours of today 17th November 2015, a patrol team led by Deputy Superintendent of Customs Jude Ohagwu intercepted a truck with one hundred and thirty eight (138) bales of used clothings valued at five million, seven hundred and ninety six thousand naira (N5, 796,000.00) only, ninety eight (98) pieces of used compressors valued at nine hundred and eighty thousand naira (N980, 000.00) only.

Cumulatively, the unit raked in the sum of fifty two million, three hundred and sixty two thousand, nine hundred naira (N52, 362,900.00) only, from all the seizures recorded in one (1) week inclusive of the latest Seizure.
“We also apprehended some suspects in connection with these seizures who we are currently investigating.

The unit under my watch is deeply committed to eradicating smuggling along the nooks and crannies of area under our watch. We are committed to intelligence led Customs operations and this entails partnership with patriotic Nigerians.
“We are strategizing on how to fully block the supply chains of the smugglers with a view to ensuring degradation of their antics.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a dumping ground for uncustomed goods and our resolve in this regard is sacrosanct and unshakable”.

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