THE Joint Task Force JTF on 100 per cent examination of goods has vowed to deal with any importer who engages in illegal importation of goods.
The enforcement of the law against importation of contraband, the task force said, became necessary because of the economic damage it does to the country.
Addressing reporters in Apapa on the seizure of 33 containers of contraband last week, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Tahir Musa, said the task force comprises officials of Customs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission.
The Apapa Port Command Area Comptroller, Abdulkadri Azereme, said three officers of the Nigeria Customs Service are in detention over their involvement in the textile scam.
Azereme said the suspects were arrested and detained following their involvement in clearing 33 containers that were seized with estimated Duty Paid Value of over N1 billion
The Customs officers and three other suspects, he said, were paraded for being involved in criminal activities that can dent the image of the agency.
Although the suspects were prevented from speaking to the press, ACG Musa said the Service cannot harbor such officers in view of the tremendous improvement in their welfare, particularly in terms of their salaries that was recently increased by almost 100 per cent by the Federal Government.
He vowed that the suspects would be taken to court after full investigation.
His words The case would be thoroughly investigated and those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law. Let me state here for the avoidance of doubt, that any officer involved in this criminal act would not only face full disciplinary measures but would also be prosecuted for the offence.
We wish to inform all genuine and compliant traders that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to ensure speedy clearance of cargo, while those bent on thwarting the Federal Government’s policy measures would need to have a rethink.
"Finally. I wish to reiterate that the Nigeria Customs Service remains fully committed to the facilitation of legitimate trade without compromising national security," Musa said.
Musa, however, assured that anyone not found guilty among those arrested would be set free.
The 33 containers, which contained African Print (Ankara), were falsely declared as motorcycle spare parts by Executive Trading and Kefel Ventures, the importers of the contraband. The containers, Musa said, were shipped from China.
Azereme, however, commended the initiative and diligence of the Customs management in tackling smuggling. He said the new Task Force is a welcome development, because it would complement the effort of customs in curbing Smuggling.
The Customs chief said the task force operates in Lagos and Port Harcourt in order to cover the eastern zone of the country.
On whether the new task force was set up to take over the official duties of NCS, he said: "The task force comprises of Customs officials, members of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as officers of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC).
We work hand in hand with resident Customs officials in the command to achieve success. Our operations still follow the established and approved Customs procedures already in place, but the emphasis is on 100 per cent physical examination of cargos coming into the country to detect offensive goods, which may be concealed in such cargos.
The officers of EFCC and ICPC are also working for the Federal Government and they are assigned to work with the new task force to have first hand information on how the Customs operate, so that when these cases get to their offices it would not be new to them.
Head, Joint Task Force on 100 per cent Examination of Cargos, Comptroller Eporwei Charles Edike, told The Nation at the port that the seizures have a total Duty Paid Value of over N1 billion.
But the Maritime Traders Association said they are still observing the activities of the task force to see their usefulness at the ports.
Speaking with reporters at Etal Hotel, Apapa, Lagos during the week, the President of the group,Roy Philipson, said the major problem they are facing now is the delay in cargo clearance at the port.
Although, Philipson said they have nothing against the task force as long they are doing what they are expected to do, but the pace with which the task force is working, he said, was slow.
The inclusion of the EFCC and ICPC officials in the task force, he said, was a vote of no confidence in Customs, importers and agents.
He, therefore, suggested that it has become important for them to come together and do the right thing as it should be done
He also called on the leadership of Customs to call the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) to order.
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