The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri has continued to record resounding success in its anti-smuggling operations in the Zone. The Zone for the month of April made fifteen seizures with duty paid value of N865,529,880. The Unit also recovered underpayments to the tune of N23,304,042.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Uba who disclosed this in a press briefing in Owerri said that FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri has a track record of success in its anti-smuggling operations and his officers have remained unflinching in their resolve to bring smuggling in the area to its barest minimum.

Comptroller Uba gave a breakdown of the commodities seized to include:
• 1605 bags with duty paid value of N58,245,000
• 2 trucks with duty paid value of N12,225,000
• 24,032 cartons of imported frozen poultry product with duty paid value of N291,988,800
• 1158 cartons of medicaments, including 635 cartons of Tramadol, with duty paid value of 494, 959,080
• 845 used tyres with duty paid value of N8,112,000

Comptroller Uba while further displaying some of the seizures deposited at the government warehouse in Benin Edo State noted that the seizures were made in Benin, Calabar, Enugu and Owerri axis of the Zone. He stated that the commodities seized are of high value hence the huge amount of the duty paid value. He further added that there are commodities in detention and intense investigation is ongoing.

Comptroller Mohammed Uba stressed that the Unit does not engage in arbitrary seizure or detention of commodities but exercises due diligence and operates within the full ambits of the law to thwart the efforts of unscrupulous individuals bent on economic sabotage of the nation.

“We are not here to intimidate anyone or discourage genuine traders but facilitate trade with a view to generate more revenue for the federal government. Government is ready and willing to assist any citizen willing to undertake legitimate trade.”

He called on smugglers to turn a new leaf and engage in legitimate trade and join in the economic development of the nation.

“Smugglers, agents and all those partaking in illegal trade should desist from such. The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri will leave no stone unturned in flushing you out from this zone.”
He disclosed that 21 suspects are in custody and will be charged to court while 25 cases are currently in court.

The Comptroller handed over the seizure of medicaments to the representative of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Pharmacist Esther Itua who lauded the Service for their efforts in safeguarding the health and safety of the nation, as well as, calling on other security agencies to emulate the Nigeria Customs Service spirit of comradeship.

In another development the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Uba has been deployed to Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Lagos. This development, with the approval of the Management of the Service, is consequent to the new appointment of 4 deputy comptroller generals and 7 assistant comptroller generals to replace some members of the management team who have proceeded on retirement.

Comptroller Mohammed Uba who was appointed the Comptroller FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri in October 2016 has recorded unprecedented achievements in anti-smuggling operations in the Zone. Comptroller Amajam B.A. has been deployed to take over the affairs of the Zone.

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