IT is not going to be business as usual again for fraudulent importers as the Nigerian Customs Service, PTML Area, Apapa Command Lagos has warned the importing public that tough time awaits fraudulent Importers. He said he would  fish them out.

As part of the  public awareness campaign by the service, the comptroller .PTML Command, Alhaji Zakari Jibrin, said the command has adopted several  measures to curb fraudulent practices among importers and agents.

The measures include:

•Prompt payment of customs duty

•Payment of Customs duty to only  government approved banks

•Always patronize genuine     licensed Customs agents for the clearing and forwarding of  consignments

•Avoid the use of touts in clearing     your consignments.

•War against unholy practices is on. Expose defaulters

• Concealment, evasion of Custom’s  Duty is an offence and can lead to imprisonment.

•Use of fake clearing documents is a crime and perpetrators will be Prosecuted accordingly.

•False declaration of goods will lead to outright seizure. Ensure Accurate declarations always.

•Importation of contraband goods is too dangerous and cancerous to the economy.

•Avoid importation of prohibited goods through the borders

•Report all cases of extortions or demand for gratification to the Area Controller.

•Always use PTML Command for easy clearance of goods which guarantees 100 percent security.

Relationship with agencies, stakeholders:

Comptroller Zakari Jibrin said the leadership skills and  determination on the part of the highly motivated officers steered the command’s ship back on course.

“During the period under review, the Command witnessed good and healthy relationship with the other agencies and stakeholders. This is attributable to the regular meeting between the management and stakeholders on one hand and the service providers on the other” he said.

Revenue generation:

In spite of the drop in the volume of importation during the second half of the year 2012, the Command, he said generated a total revenue of N71, 267,589,007. 00 as against the sum of N51.,264,053,039.00 in 2011.

This according to him, showed an increase of N20,003,535,698.00 or 39% increase, adding that a total of N43,835,737,872.00 went into the Federation Account while N27,431,851,135.00 went into the Non Federation Account.

Similarly, for the month ended January 2013,   the command generated a total of N5,958,202,874.00 billion

Anti-Smuggling:

Although the level of compliance by importers has been convincing, he said that in the area of anti-smuggling, the Command did not fair less.

Jibrin said: “A total of 18 seizures were made in 2012  showing an increase over the previous year. A breakdown shows that eight of the containers were 40ft while seven were 20ft containers.

“Also a total of three vehicles were seized. 2x40ft of the containers was handed over to the NAFDAC as it was carrying fake drugs while 3x20ft was also handed over to National Copyright Commission whose duty it is to check pirated books all in the spirit of Inter-Departmental Co-operation.

The area comptroller has promised an improvement in both revenue and Anti-smuggling drive of the command. Relationship with other agencies, stakeholders and service providers will remain a priority but for the fraudulent importers the controller has warned that though time awaits them. My officers and men will smoke you out if you don’t leave PTML.”

Revenue target for 2013:

According to him, the Custom PTML Area Command Apapa is expected to generate N90 billion, assuring that adequate measures have been put in place to curb leakages.