The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A (FOU ‘A’) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, has warned importers and clearing agents against false declaration as the command tightens the noose through intelligence-driven operations.

The Controller, FOU ‘A’, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, declared this during a courtesy visit by the members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), in Lagos.

Shuaibu, an anti-smuggling czar, promised to deploy his wealth of experience to navigate the complexities of the unit and bring to bear intelligence-driven operations rather than stopping containers incessantly on the highways.

He said: “This command is meant to be an anti-smuggling command, but we also facilitate trade. In terms of our anti-smuggling activities, very soon we will showcase some seizures to the public. These include illicit drugs and the suspects involved.

“I do intelligence-driven operations. What we are trying to do is to ensure that we don’t just stop any kind of containers, even those checking points you see our officers roving around, we would want to eradicate that, while we will be doing intelligence-driven operations.

Shuaibu enjoined the media to continue to support the NCS in sensitising the general public about engaging in legitimate trade and making honest declarations at the point of entry. He promised to consolidate on the successes achieved earlier, collaborate and synergise with the necessary stakeholders in facilitating trade.

“Some of them don’t even know that what they are doing is illegal. Some of them are doing legitimate businesses but they still go through the unapproved routes. So, many times we have to adopt surveillance strategies to police the unapproved routes, and then re-channel them to the approved routes.

“They only need to do documentation and go. So, these are part of the sensitisation that we have been doing when I was in Ogun, and I will extend it to other commands so that they will now understand the proper way of cross-border trade.

“This will make the whole operation seamless and then the government will also generate more revenue,” he stated. President, SCAN, Moses Ebosele commended the NCS particularly the officers of FOU ‘A’ for their gallant stance to protect the economy against illicit items, assuring that the media will continue to support the campaign against smuggling.

the guardian