BY Maryam Abdullahi
The federal operations unit zone ‘c’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has arrested two persons for alleged smuggling, following the interception of three trucks of unprocessed timber in Rivers state.
Olusemire Kayode, NCS zone ‘c’ coordinator, disclosed this when he displayed the seized items at the zonal headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, on Monday.
Kayode said unprocessed timber exportation without due documentation is illegal, adding that deforestation has negative impact on the environment.
According to him, unprocessed timber exportation has led to economic loss, adding that local log processing is an important way of creating employment opportunities for youths in the country.
“On July 16, 2021, at about 2.00pm, one of the surveillance teams of FOU Zone ‘C’, acting on credible intelligence, trailed and intercepted three trucks conveying 6×20ft containers of logs of rough timber along industrial road, Port Harcourt,” he said.
“We also arrested two suspected smugglers who were attempting to export the unprocessed logs, but they have been released on administrative bail.
“Exportation of rough timber which contravenes schedule 6 of the extant CET comes with negative economic and environmental effects and must not be condoned.”
Yusuf Lawal, controller of the FOU C, confirmed the development and listed the numbers of the containers as MSCU-3470637, MSDU-1497355, MEDU-9739916, MEDU-5627573, MSDU-6248794, and MEDU-6792783.
He also said the logs were seized as the arrested persons didn’t provide evidence of clearance from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
“NEPC is an agency of government which takes note of products that are meant for exportation, so that the proceeds can be repatriated accordingly,” he said.
“Unfortunately, NEPC is not aware of these logs and have not issued any Nigeria Export Proceeds form, further confirming therefore, that the logs were about to be smuggled out.”
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