Lagos — THE PTML Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered a syndicate of agents that specialise in import duty evasion by clearing goods with forged documents. It has also arrested eleven suspected fraud stars in connection with seizure of thirty seven vehicles

Disclosing this to newsmen in Lagos recently, the Comptroller in charge of the Command, Ibrahim Mera, said that he would make the command uncomfortable for fraudulent agents and importers who want to tarnish the image of the service by engaging in activities that tantamount to economic sabotage.

He also said that the command's resolve to stamp out all acts of illegality will be vigorously pursued adding that there will be no sacred cow. Mera further disclosed that eleven containers carrying contraband items and thirty-seven vehicles that were to be cleared with forged clearing documents were seized.

Mera who took journalists on a tour of some cargoes also disclosed that a special team of investigators have been sent from Abuja to help unravel the scam.

Meanwhile sixty-eight officers and men of the Command have been redeployed to other commands across the country

The PTML command boss stated that sixty-eight officers are leaving the Command to various parts of the country since the port is a model one , there will be no need to have so many officers doing the job of a fewer number of people "It is on record that about sixty of my officers are leaving this command to other places, this is suppose to be a model port, in digital age we should have less numbers to do what we need to do".he added

He promised to rid the command of fraudulent agents, importers and operators.

"As at today we are moving ahead and I think they have started getting the message , as today we have made seizures of about thirty-seven vehicles, SGDs (Single Goods Declaration Forms) under investigation are about sixty." he added

He also said that eight of the seized containers are 40" and three are 20". Some of the contents of the containers are used television sets, fridges, second hand clothes and cosmetics.

The vehicles includes twenty-one buses seven Cars, five Vans and Jeeps, and four trucks.

Besides, over sixty (60) Single Goods Declaration (SGDs) Forms were also employed by the fraudulent agents to perfect their act. Already, thirty-one (31) cases in connection with discovery are presently in court.