Customs impound 31 containers of rice declared as yeast

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),  Tincan Ports in Lagos, has impounded 31 containers all loaded to the brim with Thailand brand of parboiled rice and falsely declared as yeast by the importer, in a bid to evade paying duty on his import.

The Daily Times gathered that the containers which total contents numbered 14,000 bags, were imported from China by a company named Destiny Limited, and the value was placed at over N71m.

But luck ran out on the importer when officers of the Nigerian Customs Service attached to the Tin Can ports, on examination of the containers discovered they were not yeast as declared on paper but bags of Thailand parboiled rice.

The containers which were conveyed through a max cargo were however impounded.  The team was led by the Customs Area Controller,  Comptroller Yusuf Bashar.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos on the big catch, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col.  Hammed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) noted that the seizure was in tandem with the new mandate of the Nigeria Customs  Service. He was represented by Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement,  DCG Dan Ugo and Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Trade and Tariffs,  DCG  Iyal Umar. 

According to DCG Dan, the new leadership of the NCS is out to protect the nation’s revenue as well as to ensure strict compliance to Customs laws. 

“The Nigeria Customs Service has been redefined, we are repositioned to teach the bad guys that cheating doesn’t pay.  This is in line with our mandate to block revenue leakages explored by smugglers.

This move was what led to the discovery by our officers from the Tin Can ports, led by Comptroller Yusuf Bashar  of 31 containers laden with rice but falsely declared as yeast.

“What is quite surprising is the fact that the importer from inception had the intent to defraud the nation.  All the paper works showed the containers were yeast and not rice.  Now we know that yeast based on its classification goes for a 5% duty rate while rice has a 10% duty rate and a 60% levy.  Beyond the distorting statistics, if he had succeeded, the gap between the yeast and the rice in terms of duty would have led to a huge loss of revenue.  The amount the importer is trying to short change the federal government is large,” Dan concluded.

Reacting to the discovery,  DCG Umar said, gone were the days of false declaration as the new NCS will no longer tolerate such deception.  “We have said to importers and agents to be truthful in their declarations.  The lesson we can draw from this is the fact that the importer did not want the containers examined, and the contents could have been fire arms.  For us to promote trade facilitation, we need sincerity on the part of everyone. 

“I would also want to call on importers, especially agents, to be straightforward and truthful.  As an agent, if an importer confides in you as regards wanting to falsely declare goods, you should be bold enough to tell him no,” Umar counselled.

The Area Controller, Tin Can port, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf, reinstated the commitment of his team towards ensuring duty evaders are caught.  He stated that his team will go by the law and bring to book anyone who tries to cheat or and short-change the federal government.”