By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Authorities of Tincan Island Port have intercepted 20 containers of vegetable oil wrongly declared as Disodium Phosphate.
This comes as the Customs Area Controller of the port, Bashir Y. U has promised to block all flashpoint for revenue leakages.
Mr Bashir, while on a routine visit to the Terminal, disclosed that a certain clearing agent named Patwed Investments Company presented three Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) with C-No. 102101, purporting to be having seven containers of 7588pk of Disodium Phosphate, while another seven containers and six respectively had different pkg of the same consignment – DISODIUM PHOSPHATE.
According to the Customs boss, “Upon 100 percent examination with other relevant agencies, it was discovered that none of the containers had Disodium Phosphate other than 25kg kegs of vegetable oil.”
He said painstaking investigation would be conducted to identify those behind the illicit act for prosecution.
Mr Bashir stressed that his Command will stop at nothing in its resolve to ensure that 100 percent examination was conducted on all cargoes so as to nip all manner of infraction in the bud in line with the change mantra of the Federal Government and the Comptroller General of Customs.
On the legal implications, the Controller pointed that the importation contravenes the import regulations, particularly sections 46 & 47 of the Customs and Excise Management act, CAP-C 45 Laws of the Federation as amended.
He commended the seizing officers for demonstrating due diligence and professionalism in the discharge of their official functions and vowed to deal decisively with non-compliant importers or their agents while assuring those who are compliant with the extant laws of his readiness to ensure facilitation of their legitimate trade.
