Customs impounds 2015 bullet-proof Toyota Camry, Land Cruiser SUV, others

Breakdown of the seizures revealed that among the vehicles were six Land cruiser Prado, Land cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner, Lexus LX 570 and Mercedes Benz CLS 350, “all 2014/2015 model”.

The development is coming barely one week after the units made seizures of forty-two (42) various contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N197.3 million.

The unit in a statement explained that a total of fourteen (14) suspects are now in Customs net in connection with the recent contraband items seized with a total DPV of N441.6 million.

Breakdown of the items confiscated indicated that a total of 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry product (Chicken, turkey and gizzard) “deliberately concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks, with used Jacuzzi bathing tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags, and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck, to beat the eagle-eye Customs officers”.

The statement explained that the products, “impounded on the Benin, Agbor and Bayelsa/Port-Harcourt axis between the wee hours of 13th and 14th August respectively, have a DPV of N89.3 million.

The Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor David, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the illegally imported frozen poultry products, and eight suspects for the smuggled vehicles.

He said the destruction of the imported frozen poultry products were carried out in the presence of some officials of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration Agency and Control (NAFDAC) and the Director of State Security Services (DSS) in line with the recently launched “Operation Hawk Descend” to check the activities of smugglers of the products.

Dimka explained that a total of 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6,000,000. 00 was equally seized by his officers at Ikom boarder in Cross River State, with two suspects involved in the shady deal.

He said the suspects are helping the Customs in their investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items.
The CAC, who denounced the rising tide of smuggling activities in the country despite the consequences of the unpatriotic business, warned those still involved to desist forthwith in their own interest.

He observed that, smuggling of contraband goods has continued to damage the nation’s economy, adding that many families have been ruined as a result of the indulgence of some of their beloved ones in this obnoxious act.

He also reminded smugglers that the Nigeria Customs Service is now better trained, equipped and motivated with necessary logistics to meet its challenges.