NCS arraigns two Chinese, Nigerian for smuggling tusks, animal scales

NCS arraigns two Chinese,  Nigerian for smuggling tusks,  animal scales

Nets in over N1 billion in December

Joy Anyim

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit  Zone A  have arraigned two Chinese Mr. Shu Xiang Quan,  Mr. Wu Sheng He and a Nigerian Mr. Ugochukwu Frank for attempting to smuggle out for export  animal tusks and unprocessed animal scale to Hong Kong.

It was gathered that the suspects who were arrested in December 2016 had loaded the items in a 1×20 feet container numbered MSKU 249088/0 on a man diesel truck with registration number XS713.

Intelligence had filtered to the unit on the activities of the trio. operatives from the Unit immediately swung into action and arrested Ugochukwu with the container at Area B Apapa road Lagos on the 15th December 2016 and he also led the operatives to the hideout of the two Chinese at Adeniyi Jones Street Ikeja Lagos where they were also pick up on the 23rd December 2016.

The suspects were arraigned before Justice  Mohammed Hassan of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos on Thursday 29th December 2016 on four counts charge of storing and exporting prohibited items.

According to the Unit’s Controller,  Comptroller Haruna Mamudu who made the disclosure in a press statement issued yesterday,  the seized items had been handed over to the Nigeria Environment Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further actions,  while the court had ordered that the three suspects be remanded at the  Ikoyi Prison for trial as the case was adjourned to January 5th and 23rd , 2017 respectively.

Comptroller Haruna  said, “You will recall that part of the responsibility of the Federal Operations Unit is to enforce different International protocols and conventions that have continued to increase the responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service most especially in area of trade facilitation.

“Notably, the United Nations chatter on preservation of endangers species entails that Customs Administrations globally protect wild life by intercepting illegal trade on such animals.

“my unit will not relent in its effort in intercepting all contrabands from either going out or coming into the country.”

On his part,  Badejogbin David ESQ who led the legal team of the Nigeria Customs Service prayed that the court expedite the legal proceedings to serve as deterrent to others in the nation.

Similarly the Comptroller also revealed that in the month of December a total of 22 suspects were arrested with 126 different seizures recorded and a cumulative net of N1,388,290,225.92

Giving a breakdown of the generated sum,  the Controller stated that the seizures which comprised of  Raw Hide/Skin, Elephant tusks, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp and various general merchandise could be put at a duty paid value (DPV) N893,873,250.00.

The Controller also stated that,  “the unit through its interventions recovered N494,416,97 from duty payments and demand notices on vehicles and other general goods that tried to beat the system from seaports, airport and border stations in the guise of false declaration, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the Federal Government of Nigeria,  making it a cumulative of net of  N1,388,290,225.92. “

While commending the Officers and Men of the Unit for living up to their statutory responsibilities in the  suppression of smuggling and enhancing trade facilitation towards sustaining best international standards, the Controller thanked the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) for his effort in appreciating hard work and diligence to duty, and for always been there in giving a helping hand when the need arises.

He attributed the huge recovery in the history of the Unit to exemplary leadership and motivation  given to  Officers and Men of the Unit.