From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’, Owerri, Imo State, last month recorded seizures worth N372,233,523 and recovered underpayments worth N12,040,949.
Amajam Bukar, the Comptroller in charge of the zone told newsmen that the war against smuggling remained total and fierce, assuring that all arrested smugglers aside forfeiting their goods would also be prosecuted.
He said from January 2017 till date the, the unit made 91 seizures with duty paid value of N1,735,665,304.
Hecharged intending importers and traders to be honest in their declarations, affirming that goods falsely declared were liable to seizure in accordance with the laws and government’s trade policies.
He debunked allegations of high handedness, stressing that his operatives carried out their operations as stipulated by law.
He said plans were afoot to increase Customs operatives manning the waterways.
He explained that most of the smuggling took place along various water channels, especially in Mfum and Akwa Ibom areas.