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Crime Watch: EFCC Moves to Investigate Illegal Clearance of 35 Containers

By on December 10, 2012

EFCC

Officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are set to pounce on importers and clearing agents at the Lagos ports today to investigate the illegal clearance of 35 containers.

The 35 containers were bound for Bonded Terminal in the Badagry- Expressway axis but were diverted to an unidentified destination without the appropriate duty paid to the Federal Government by the importers and the clearing agent.

A source who spoke in confidence said when the EFCC boss, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde learnt that the duty paid on the diverted 35 containers is over N2.5 billion, he directed his officers to investigate the matter.

He said the Presidency was not happy when it discovered that senior Customs officers from Tin Can Port were involved.

“The government became worried when it was realised that some senior government officials were involved in the scam and that was why the EFCC has been drafted to the port to investigate the matter and other sundry issues to bring sanity to the port.

“The Presidency is not happy that such quantum of goods could get out of the port without anybody accounting for them.

“The issue becomes worrisome when certain individuals and agencies of government are deliberately thwarting the efforts of the Federal Government to sanitise the ports based on the high level of insecurity in the country. “If senior Customs officers can be involved in such shady deal, it means the government must be very vigilant so that some greedy individuals do not endanger the lives and property of the people,” the official said.