Customs seizes 5,040 cartons of red grape drink, other contraband in Imo

February 15, 2020
158 Views

By Richard Adeniyi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operating Unit (FOU), Zone C, Owerri in Imo says it has confiscated 5,040 cartons of red grape drink smuggled into the state.

The NCS also seized 143 bales of fabrics with each bale containing 1,200 dozens of garments.

Controller of the NCS in Imo, Mr Kayode Olusemire made the disclosure while displaying the seized items at its office in Owerri on Wednesday.

Olusemire said that NCS officers in Owerri intercepted trailers conveying the smuggled items to Aba and Port Harcourt.

He said that the importers of the seized items would have to forfeit them to government as according to him, they were guilty of false declaration, an offence which contravened section 46 of Customs laws.

He added that the Pre-arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) for the containers indicated that they had been loaded with industrial salt and agricultural pressure sprayer as against red grape drink and garments respectively discovered in the containers.

ALSO READ: Tin can Island Customs sets N540bn revenue target for 2020

The controller however, said that the importers of the seized items must have been trying to evade import duty adding that the duty for the real contents of the containers was higher than that of the camouflaged items.

Olusemire frowned at continued cases of false declaration and their impact on the country’s economy while advising importers to desist from the act.

“The importers of these items are guilty of false declaration and the items should be forfeited to government because what we have in the PAAR is different from the actual contents of the containers.

“The import duty for garments is 20 per cent while that of agricultural pressure sprayer is five per cent, so I think the importers must have been trying to evade tax.

“Red grape juice is prohibited from coming into the country because its importation can render local fruit juice companies moribund, leading to unemployment and economic insecurity.

“We have credible intelligence across the country so we advise importers to desist from illegitimate practices for the overall good of our dear country,” he said.

PV: 0

You may be interested

PHOTOS: Nigerian Army Releases Pictures of Rescued Kuriga School Children
Crime
Crime

PHOTOS: Nigerian Army Releases Pictures of Rescued Kuriga School Children

Webby - March 24, 2024

The abducted students of LEA Primary school in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state have regained their freedom…

Adopt New Strategies – Shehu Sani Reacts To The Rescue Of Kidnapped 287 Kuriga Students
News
5 views
News
5 views

Adopt New Strategies – Shehu Sani Reacts To The Rescue Of Kidnapped 287 Kuriga Students

Webby - March 24, 2024

Shehu Sani, the former Senator representing Kaduna Central, has advocated for the implementation of new strategies aimed at preventing the…

What Difference Does It Make? Actor, Uti Nwachukwu Speaks On The Ethnic Issue In Nollywood
News
5 views
News
5 views

What Difference Does It Make? Actor, Uti Nwachukwu Speaks On The Ethnic Issue In Nollywood

Webby - March 24, 2024

The Jara show host noted that being alive to see the tremendous growth that the Nigerian movie industry has witnessed…

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.