Customs Denies Aiding, Abetting Cargo Smuggling Out Of Ports

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has denied the allegation that it aids and abets the smuggling of fake and substandard goods out of the nation’s seaports by routinely denying the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) access to the joint examination of cargo at the ports.

In a press statement on Friday, NCS said the allegations were not true, with attached redacted documents of proof, while expressing shock at the statement credited to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim.

Salim, in the statement, was credited to have accused the Service of being responsible for revenue losses, following the preponderance of fake and substandard products out of the nation’s ports and alluded that officials of SON were routinely excluded from joint examination by officers of NCS.

According to the statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of NCS, Deputy Compt. Timi Bomodi,” We want to state that the allegations are untrue. The Nigeria Customs Service is fully cognizant that strategic cooperation among security and regulatory agencies lies at the heart of national security and willfully works in tandem with other security and regulatory agencies including SON to achieve national goals.

“Under the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II), SON and other regulatory agencies of government are linked directly and frequently make inputs in reference to items of significance to their operations. At no time has NCS refused to oblige them with any request?

Indeed, the Nigeria Customs Service, even without SON’s intervention, directs suspicious items bordering on brand and intellectual property rights infringements to them, ”he added.

The statement had attached redacted documents buttress their claim that SON has access to their systems, “are informed and fully participate in examinations and even go as far as to collect product samples where necessary during examinations for their investigations.

“Even the field inspection process chart on the SON official website shows SON’s involvement at the ports and borders during examinations. There exist open communication channels between officials of SON and NCS Area Commands should the need arise for clarifications or interventions.”