The Nigeria Customs Service, on Monday, said it has seized over 100 exotic vehicles, including various models of Sports Utility Vehicles, adding that 38 of them had been forfeited to the Federal Government.
It also called on stakeholders to synergise with officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service to effectively suppress the menace of smuggling vehicles into Nigeria.
Coordinator, Rapid Response Squad Headquarters, Deputy Comptroller Jack Okpabi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja while providing updates on his team’s quarterly achievements.
According to him, the smuggled vehicles that were intercepted, he said the recent operation by the NCS, which led to the interception of over 100 Toyota Hilux, Toyota Landcruiser and other models of exotic vehicles, had saved the country from losing huge revenue that would have gone down the drain.
Okpabi was quoted as saying, “You can see that we have over 100 vehicles and 38 have been forfeited to the Federal Government. The operation will lead to the recovery of over N400m from demand notices.”
The customs officer expressed dismay over the determination of some persons to smuggle vehicles into Nigeria and wondered why some individuals were patronising the smugglers.
“It is on this note that I want to emphasise that the service will not hesitate to bring to book any offender caught smuggling vehicles into Nigeria.”
