FOU Customs nabs impersonator, 23 suspected smugglers

The suspect, Mr. Wasiu Ariyo (middle in handcuff) being paraded before journalists at a media briefing n Lagos

Customs arraigns impersonator, 23 smugglers in Federal High Court, Lagos
A middle aged man, Mr. Wasiu Ariyo, has been arrested by officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A and is now standing trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonation and defrauding a banker, one Mr. Azeem Abiodun Akinbiyi of large sums of money.

Ariyo, who was said to have falsely described himself as an Assistant Controller of Customs to unsuspecting members of the public, had earlier been paraded before newsmen at a briefing by Mr. Tahir Musa, Controller, FOU, Zone A, on June 4, this year.
Armed with the false claim, the suspect allegedly went to defraud Akinbiyi, a banker of number 28, Wharf Road, Apapa, Lagos.

He allegedly promised his victim that he could procure for him, a Toyota Camry car from the Nigeria Customs Service during the auction sales of seized cars at a sum of N400,000.
Luck however, ran out on Ariyo as he did not know that his victim had made discreet investigations that gave him up as a fraudster.

Ariyo was consequently arrested by Customs officials and charged to court where he was granted bail.

Apart from this development, three other suspects were arrested for smuggling around the same period during which goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N219 million including 56 Tokunbo vehicles were seized.

Aside these, cases of under-declaration, underpayment of duty, concealment of imported goods and outright forgery of import documents were unearthed.

During the period, FOU officials impounded a 40-feet container which was dubiously declared to contain 100 cartons of new television sets but was found to have carried 800 cartons by FOU officers who insisted on 100 per cent inspection.

Another container declared to be carrying other goods was found to have contained two KIA sportage vehicles in it while the FOU collected a whooping sum of N29.8 million as underpayment of duty in the month of May, 2009 alone.

Apart from the above, 20 suspected smugglers were arrested in connection with 9 seizures last September and charged to court.

Eight of them have been released on bail by the court.

As at the time of filling this report, 15 containers released from various sea ports in Nigeria containing various imported goods are undergoing investigation by men of the FOU, Lagos while 9 seizures were made between July and September, 2009.

The seizures had a DPV of N99.4 million while 24 smuggled vehicles also impounded by Customs also carried a DPV of N22 million.

The face of an impostor

The face of an arrested impostor!
This is the face of a suspected impostor in Lagos who allegedly defrauded a member of the public and is now standing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos. Full story coming soon

Customs FOU arrrest, arraigns 62 suspected smugglers

Customs officers conducting journalists round contraband goods seized by officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Lagos.

Controller Tahir Musa explaining to newsmen how and why these contraband goods were detected and seized by his men at a briefing recently in Lagos.

Customs officers performing 100 per cent physical inspection on contraband goods in Lagos.

At a recent media briefing, Controller tahir Musa and his officers explaining to journalists hoe goods were under-declared, concealed and actually smuggled in contravention of the Nigerian laws.

Controller Tahir Musa answering questions from reporters about the contraband goods seized by his men last month in Lagos.

Customs FOU arrrest, arraigns 62 suspected smugglers
* 2 smugglers convicted
The Comptroller Tahir Musa-led Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, has arrested a total of 62 suspected smugglers between January and August this year.
All the 62 suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos for various charges.

During the month of August, the FOU succeeded in arresting five suspected smugglers who are also facing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Addressing journalists on the breakthrough recorded by his men, Musa announced that a total of 198 seizures were made including general goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N189,322,487.00.

A total of 54 Tokunbo vehicles were also impounded for evasion of duty payment.Other items included on the seizure list are textiles, used tyres and second hand clothes, used frozen cookers and refrigeration sets, chickens/turkeys imported in violation of Nigerian laws, traveling bags and pirated compact disks (CDs).
These items have a DPV of N33,360,000.00 all totaling N222,682,407.00.In June, the FOU also arrested 11 suspects while also making 31 seizures with DPV of N82,372,430.00 and 18 vehicles with DPV of N30,240,000.00.

The seizure in June was particularly significant as 15,000 copies of pirated CDs were impounded by the Customs.
This followed the Master Class/Sensitization workshop on counterfeiting and piracy spearheaded by UBA Plc and held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos.

A total of twelve suspects were arrested by the FOU last May during a blinding raid on smugglers operating in Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service.

In one fell swoop, the FOU seized a total of 7,000 cartons of frozen chickens and turkey imported illegally.Officials of the National Agency for Drugs Control and Administration (NAFDAC) were brought in to witness the destruction of the banned items.

The Federal High Court, Lagos has already sentenced two suspected smugglers to prison terms for violating the law.

Smugglers kill DCIC Abubakar Babale in Lagos

Smugglers kill DCIC Abubakar Babale in Lagos

The syndrome of job hazzard has claimed another victim as dare-devil smugglers gunned down and killed Deputy Chief Inspector of Customs Abubakar Babale along Seme axis in Lagos.

The dutiful and no nonsense officer was killed while on the trail of smmuglers.

Babale has since been buried according to Muslim rites

Comptroller Nwokocha reads riot act to smugglers

Smugglers operating in Oyo and Osun States will no longer find it easy as the Customs Area Comptroller, Mrs. Chinwe Nwokocha has declared he determination to wage a decisive war against economic criminals.

To underscore her resolve, the Oyo/Osun Command recently seized a trailer load of assorted textile along Oyo/Ibadan road particularly at Akinyele Local Government Area.

The seizure has a Duty Paid Value of more than N35 million.In the last three weeks, the Nwokocha-led Command had made other seizures worth N25 million including eight (8) vehicles, four of which are currently under investigation.

Underscoring her resolve to discourage smugglers from the illegal trade, Nwokocha made allusions to Professor Chinua Achebe's masterpiece saying "If the birds of smugglers continue to fly without perching, my officers will continue to shoot without ceasing".

She advised smugglers to engage in legitimate activities to avoid the wrath of the law warning that anyone found carrying out illegal trade and economic sabotage would be dealt with according to the law.

Nigerian Banks get 24-hour ultimatum to transmit Customs duty payment to CBN

Nigerian banks are now required to transmit the payment of Customs Duty to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) within 24 business hours or face sanctions.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Wale Adeniyi made this known during an exclusive chat with to Business and Maritime Summit in Lagos on Wednesday.

He explained that the former practice whereby banks collected duties on behalf of the Customs and fail to remit it to the CBN on time would no longer be tolerated.He stressed that a pilot test of the new regulation had begun in Abuja and implemented at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The result generated from the new procedure, Adeniyi added, showed a remarkable improvement in the revenue generated by the NCS as opposed to what obtained in the past.

"The number of assessment has trippled from 600 per month to 1,800 per month while revenue generation has also tripled in the same", he stressed.

He added that the procedure has therefore been introduced all over the federation and urged all banks designated to collect Customs duty to comply with the new regulation without fail.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Pix 1: An impostor (name withheld) who called himself an Assistant Comptroller of Customs and solicited about N400,000 from unsuspecting members of the public to buy an alleged auctioned vehicle was arrested and charged to court. He has been standing trial but released on bail by the Federal High Court, Lagos

Pix 2: Comptroller Tahir Musa addressing journalists while conducting reporters round the warehouse for seized goods in Lagos

Pix 3: Comptroller Musa speaking on the seizure of pirated CDs in Lagos recently.

Pix 4: Officers and men of Customs conducting 100 per cent inspection on contraband goods in Ikeja, Lagos.

Pix 5: Another truck loaded with contraband goods impounded by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU)

Pix 6: Another truck loaded with smuggled goods impounded by Customs officers in Lagos.

Pix 7: Journalists inspecting a container loaded with imported car that was not declared honestly by the importer.

Pix 8: Late DCIC Abubakar Babale who was killed by smugglers at Morogbo village along Seme Axis in Lagos recently.

Smugglers kill DCIC Abubakar Babale in Lagos

Smugglers kill DCIC Abubakar Babale in Lagos

the syndrome of job hazzard has claimed another victim as dare-devil smugglers gunned down and killed Deputy Chief Inspector of Customs Abubakar Babale along Seme axis in Lagos.

The dutiful and no nonsense officer was killed while on the trail of smmuglers.

Babale has since been buried according to Muslim rites

Customs FOU arraigns 62 suspected smugglers

* 2 smugglers convicted

The Comptroller Tahir Musa-led Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, has arrested a total of 62 suspected smugglers between January and August this year.
All the 62 suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos for various charges.

During the month of August, the FOU succeeded in arresting five suspected smugglers who are also facing trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Addressing journalists on the breakthrough recorded by his men, Musa announced that a total of 198 seizures were made including general goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N189,322,487.00.

A total of 54 Tokunbo vehicles were also impounded for evasion of duty payment.

Other items included on the seizure list are textiles, used tyres and second hand clothes, used frozen cookers and refrigeration sets, chickens/turkeys imported in violation of Nigerian laws, traveling bags and pirated compact disks (CDs)

These items have a DPV of N33,360,000.00 all totaling N222,682,407.00.
In June, the FOU also arrested 11 suspects while also making 31 seizures with DPV of N82,372,430.00 and 18 vehicles with DPV of N30,240,000.00

The seizure in June was particularly significant as 15,000 copies of pirated CDs were impounded by the Customs.

This followed the Master Class/Sensitization workshop on counterfeiting and piracy spearheaded by UBA Plc and held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos.

A total of twelve suspects were arrested by the FOU last May during a blinding raid on smugglers operating in Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service.

In one fell swoop, the FOU seized a total of 7,000 cartons of frozen chickens and turkey imported illegally.

Officials of the National Agency for Drugs Control and Administration (NAFDAC) were brought in to witness the destruction of the banned items.

The Federal High Court, Lagos has already sentenced two suspected smugglers to prison terms for violating the law.

Banks get ultimatum to transmit Customs duty payment to CBN

Nigerian banks are now required to transmit the payment of Customs Duty to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) within 24 business hours or face sanctions.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Wale Adeniyi made this known during an exclusive chat with to Business and Maritime Summit in Lagos on Wednesday.

He explained that the former practice whereby banks collected duties on behalf of the Customs and fail to remit it to the CBN on time would no longer be tolerated.

He stressed that a pilot test of the new regulation had begun in Abuja and implemented at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The result generated from the new procedure, Adeniyi added, showed a remarkable improvement in the revenue generated by the NCS as opposed to what obtained in the past.

"The number of assessment has trippled from 600 per month to 1,800 per month while revenue generation has also tripled in the same", he stressed..

He added that the procedure has therefore been introduced all over the federation and urged all banks designated to collect Customs duty to comply with the new regulation without fail.

Comptroller Nwokocha reads riot act to smugglers
Smugglers operating in Oyo and Osun States will no longer find it easy as the Customs Area Comptroller, Mrs. Chinwe Nwokocha has declared he determination to wage a decisive war against economic criminals.

To underscore her resolve, the Oyo/Osun Command recently seized a trailer load of assorted textile along Oyo/Ibadan road particularly at Akinyele Local Government Area.

The seizure has a Duty Paid Value of more than N35 million.

In the last three weeks, the Nwokocha-led Command had made other seizures worth N25 million including eight (8) vehicles, four of which are currently under investigation.

Underscoring her resolve to discourage smugglers from the illegal trade, Nwokocha made allusions to Professor Chinua Achebe's masterpiece saying "If the birds of smugglers continue to fly without perching, my officers will continue to shoot without ceasing".

She advised smugglers to engage in legitimate activities to avoid the wrath of the law warning that anyone found carrying out illegal trade and economic sabotage would be dealt with according to the law.

Nigeria Customs begins Assessment, Duty Payment October 12

Nigeria Customs begins Assessment, Duty Payment October 12

From October 12, this year, The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will begin a new Assessment and Duty payment procedure that will enable importers to pay to banks all duties without needing to pass through any of its officials.

Furthermore, any shipping or airline that fails to make available the electronic manifest of the goods they are trying to import into Nigeria would no longer be allowed to berth or land in Nigeria.

This disclosure was made in Lagos yesterday by the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Wale Adeniyi during an interview with Business and Maritime Summit.

The new procedure, Adeniyi explained, was adopted by the service in response to the yearnings of maritime stakeholders for improved Customs clearance system.

While giving insight into the new procedure, the Customs spokesman stressed that importers, under the new regime, are to generate assessment for their goods and make duty payment by themselves in any of the designated banks.

In doing these, the importers are not expected to visit any Customs premises so as to guarantee transparency and accountability.

Importers or licensed Customs agents who have the requisite ASCUDA ++ facilities, the PRO stated further, are expected to initiate the assessment and pay appropriate duties to the banks in the comfort of their offices.

Those who do not have these facilities, according to Adeniyi, are required to visit and access the system through licensed Direct Traders Input cafes already designated for the purpose.

Explaining the new regulation guiding the electronic Transmission of Manifest otherwise called e-manifest, the Customs image maker dsclosed further that any shipping company of airline that fails to submit its electronic manifest to the Customs would no longer be allowed to berth or land in Nigeria.

In order to facilitate this, he stated that shipping compaines and airlines were already being sensitized on the new procedure to facilitate their preparation and compliance.

The new e-manifest procedure, he stressed, would now take effect from October 12, 2009.

Nigeria Customs begins Assessment, Duty Payment October 12

Nigeria Customs begins Assessment, Duty Payment October 12
From October 12, this year, The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will begin a new Assessment and Duty payment procedure that will enable importers to pay to banks all duties without needing to pass through any of its officials.
Furthermore, any shipping or airline that fails to make available the electronic manifest of the goods they are trying to import into Nigeria would no longer be allowed to berth or land in Nigeria.
This disclosure was made in Lagos yesterday by the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Wale Adeniyi during an interview with Business and Maritime Summit.
The new procedure, Adeniyi explained, was adopted by the service in response to the yearnings of maritime stakeholders for improved Customs clearance system.
While giving insight into the new procedure, the Customs spokesman stressed that importers, under the new regime, are to generate assessment for their goods and make duty payment by themselves in any of the designated banks.
In doing these, the importers are not expected to visit any Customs premises so as to guarantee transparency and accountability.
Importers or licensed Customs agents who have the requisite ASCUDA ++ facilities, the PRO stated further, are expected to initiate the assessment and pay appropriate duties to the banks in the comfort of their offices.
Those who do not have these facilities, according to Adeniyi, are required to visit and access the system through licensed Direct Traders Input cafes already designated for the purpose.
Explaining the new regulation guiding the electronic Transmission of Manifest otherwise called e-manifest, the Customs image maker dsclosed further that any shipping company of airline that fails to submit its electronic manifest to the Customs would no longer be allowed to berth or land in Nigeria.
In order to facilitate this, he stated that shipping compaines and airlines were already being sensitized on the new procedure to facilitate their preparation and compliance.
The new e-manifest procedure, he stressed, would now take effect from October 12, 2009.