By UDEME CLEMENT
The Joint Task Force on 100 per cent examination of cargos, set up by the management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last December to curb smuggling and enhance revenue generation for government has intercepted of imported furniture materials with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N300million.

The Head of the Joint Task Force, Comptroller Eporwei Charles Edike, who conducted Journalists round the items concealed in eight containers at Lilypond Area Command, Apapa, say the goods were imported into Nigeria through Lekki free trade zone, by two International companies, whose nationals were equally apprehended by his men and officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Lagos.

He added, “the goods came into the country in October 2009 and January 2010, through the free trade zone, at the time when such items were still in the import prohibition list as contra-band. Free trade zone for customs should be fenced and protected. You could quantify the number of items loaded in eight containers here to see that the furniture materials are for commercial purpose and not office use only.

Aside from these items, the Task Force has within December 3, 2010 when it was inaugurated impounded over 60 containers of prohibited goods. 18 containers were seized in Port Harcourt recently due to false declaration and some as prohibited goods, while 8 suspects included customs officers are in our custody.”

Edike explained that 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), working in synergy to curb smuggling and generate revenue for government to run the economy.

“Aside from Lagos and Port Harcourt , there is another Task Force team covering the Northern part of the country. The initiative is to curtail influx of offensive goods coming into the economic environment illegally”, he enthused.