The customs zonal controller in charge of federal operations (FOU) ZONE A, Lagos Comptroller Musa Tahir has reiterated that the zonal officers have the right to interrogate and intercept any container within the area of their jurisdiction.

Reacting to the grumbles in some quarters within Lagos that the operations of FOU cause the importers to do what they regard as double clearing of goods as they feel that they had done their clearing either from the sea port, airport or border posts.

Tahir said the role of FOU is that of checks and balances which is obtainable in any other government agency especially military or Para-military. He said that Federal operations unit recently seized a forty footer container carrying about one hundred bales of second hand cloths, meanwhile such items was cleared by customs at port and terminal multipurpose limited (PTML) near Tincan Island port. He said if his men did not intercept that, it would have gone to Nigerian Market and the revenue accruable from such seizure would have been lost. He said that those complaining of their functions are not patriotic noting that, FOU strictly act on information and tip off. We don't mount check- points because it is not part of our job detail.

We act strictly on tip- off and it has yielded tremendously and we will continue to stop them.

Recall, that the zone recently made a massive seizure within three weeks. It included seventeen containers, what two hundred and fifty million (#250m) duty payable.