Customs seizes 76 vehicles valued at N67.7m in Seme

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Border Command has seized 76 vehicles from smugglers in the last one month.

Also the command has generated N1.129 billion revenue in September, 2016.

The spokesman of the command, Mr Selechang Taupyen, said in a statement in Lagos that the amount generated surpassed the N833.8 million collected in the same month of 2015.

He added that despite the challenges the command was facing last month at the border, the command was able to generate the amount.

Also, Taupyen stressed that the command was able to seize 76 vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N67.7million.

He added that the anti smuggling unit of the command intercepted and seized three bulletproof vehicles smuggled into the country at different entry points.

He listed the vehicles to include a Black Escalade Jeep with registration number GGE 225 BM; Toyota Land Cruiser, LSR 906 AG and a Mercedes Benz Bus with a foreign plate number.

Taupyen noted that the revenue of the command would increase once the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the command and the Republic of Benin became effective.

The public relations officer added that the MoU involved the Benin Government handing over all transit vehicles to the command.

Taupyen explained that with the compliance in the general unification of values across border commands and the strict adherence to clearance procedure of general goods, NCS would be able to sustain the principle of compliance, transparency and integrity.

“Security of the nation remains a top priority to the border commands of the Nigeria Customs Service. So, importation of such vehicles must undergo security procedure for approval from the office of the National Security Adviser before importation”, he said.

Taupyen advised the public to desist from smuggling, saying it was an unpatriotic act. He noted that healthy relationship devoid of infractions in clearing procedure would give the command the desired result, increased revenue and suppression of smuggling.