Customs Zone C Renews War Against Smuggling

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Zone C in Owerri on Tuesday said that it was intensifying the war against smuggling and related offences as the Yuletide approaches.
The Public Relations Officer in the command, Mrs Ifeoma Onuigbo, told newsmen in Onitsha that no amount of falsehood and blackmail would deter the command from the renewed onslaught on smuggling.
Onuigbo said that vehicles with fake documents would not be allowed within the zone during this period of the year.
“Sequel to unrelenting onslaught against smuggling, duty evasion and other illegalities by smugglers which are being fought in the zone, smugglers of fake drugs have commenced a campaign of falsehood against the Zone”
“They have also resorted to using human rights groups and other faceless bodies to attack the zone,’’ Onuigbo said.
She said that the command should be commended for raising the anti-smuggling tempo instead of the allegations, including blackmail against the unit in the national dailies.
“This act is not only illegal, but unpatriotic against Nigeria and the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The President has not hidden his determination to stamp out all forms of corruption and all illegalities in the country,’’ she said.
Onuigbo said that the command made 32 seizures with Duty Paid Value of over N814 million in September.
“This is the highest recorded so far this year; taking us back will amount to putting a cog in the wheels of progress we are making,” she said.
She said that the command had also arrested 24 suspects in connection with the seizures, pointing out that 21 cases were already in courts.
Onuigbo said that the command made underpayment recovery of N26 million into government coffers last month.
“We should, therefore, be commended instead of being vilified,” she said.