Following increasing activities of suspected internet fraudsters allegedly using the name of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to offer for sale fake auction papers to defraud unsuspecting members of the public through online media, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tin-Can Island Port Area Command, Comptroller Zakari Jibrin, has warned members of the public not to be fooled by this offer.
Jibrin, who gave the warning yesterday while briefing journalists on the Command’s performance between January and August, 2013, reiterated that awareness has been created by the Service that it does not carry out sale of auction vehicles online, even as he called on members of the public to disregard any sale of auction documents.
“The Service has created awareness on this, but, for those who have not heard of it, let me make it clear today that there is no auction. Don’t allow any body to collect your money for auction, because, if you that, you are on your own. Customs has not authorised anybody to collect money on its behalf for auction,” Jibrin stated.
Speaking on the Command’s revenue collection, Jibrin stated that the Command collected N23.8 billion in August this year.
According to him, the amount generated is unprecedented in the history of the Command since inception, representing the highest revenue collected to date.
From January to August 2013, the Command, according to him, collected over N151 billion, reflecting increased revenue performance of N11.6 when compared with the total collection of N139 billion in the corresponding period of 2012.
On anti-smuggling, the CAC said that the Command in the review period intercepted 159 various offending imports with a duty paid value (DPV) of N481, 356.000.
A breakdown of the seized items, which include furniture, vegetable oil, used cloths, used tyres, expired frozen fish, printed wax, lace materials and automotive batteries, among others, shows that 92 units of 40-foot containers, 47 units of 20-foot containers, three unpacked vehicles and 17 other offending imports were intercepted in the review period.
He said that suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, while three have been charged to court noting that investigation is ongoing pending when the other suspects will be charged to court.
He attributed the feat recorded in its revenue collection and anti-smuggling drive which according to him has reduced to increase in the level of compliance by stakeholders even as he warned that any importer who fails to comply with the Federal Government import guidelines will continue to get their goods forfeited.
“We have been making seizures, but it has reduced which means the stakeholders are complying except for some few ones who are still adamant but we are ready for them,” he said.
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