Customs Impounds Containers Of Pirated Books

The Management and staff of Bua Group, Port Harcourt in a walk-out during their Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) week at Port Harcourt Port Complex, recently.

The Port and Terminal Multi-Services Limited Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted three containers of pirated books imported from China.

The PTML Area Controller, Alhaji Jubril Zakari, said in Lagos that the containers of pirated books were declared as Bibles ad other Christians Publications but on physical examinations was discovered to contain educational books, such as; mastering English and Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary among others.

He said that the first container was declared to contain Christian books but on physical examination, it was discovered to contain educational books on anatomy and physiology in health and others. The second container declared its content as “think and do reading book”, but was found on examination to contain 980 cartons of educational books like mastering English, Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, Oral and basic technology and others, while the last container, declared as Holy Bible on examination was found to be carrying 250 cartons of Holy Bible and 425 cartons of other books.

The Controller, however, said that three suspects have been arrested and were aiding the command in its investigations.

He further explained that the command was ever ready to plug all leakages and vowed that no dirty deals will be allowed to pass through the command.

Zakari also said that the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko had zero tolerance for anything unwholesome.

The Customs boss said that the internal strategies put in place by the Command had started yielding results.

According to him, 100 percent goods re-examination conducted by officers led to the discovery of the pirated books in the containers.

The controller described the importers as saboteurs, who are in habit of reproducing other people’ work without their consent even as he reiterated that dubious importers will continue to have their goods seized.

Zakari warned that dubious importers and their agents should look elsewhere, adding that his command is well equipped and battle ready to fight unscrupulous importers to standstill.

According to him, nothing would deter him and his men from ensuring that the right things were done at the right time, adding that those nursing the hope of using the PTML command to carry out their nefarious activities should think twice.

Taking over the seized goods, the Deputy Director, Zonal Manager of the Nigeria Copy Right Commissioner (NCC) Chris Nwocha, expressed appreciation to NCS in its effort toward checkmating the nefarious activities of pirates.