The Tin Can Island Ports Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) yesterday handed over two (2) suspected stolen Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to Interpol.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Port, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf disclosed that the interception was sequel to intelligence report from Interpol.
He stated that the vehicles loaded in a 1x40ft container with No. UACN 548368\1 was imported from Washington D.C in the United States of America and declared as Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Cruiz with some bicycles.
Bashar further said that based on the intelligence made available to Customs from Interpol, all consignments from the United States were placed on high surveillance to ensure that the suspected container was tracked.
“The vessel was monitored from the port of loading to Tincan Island Port and was intercepted on arrival at the Tincan Island Port”, the CAC said adding that the vehicles were Gold coloured Range Rover SUV 2014 with Chasis No.SALGS2VFGEA126188 and one black coloured Range Rover SUV 2015 with Chasis No. SALGS37FOFA239330.
The Controller expressed the deep commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to partner and share intelligence with all agencies both foreign and local in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration and synergy.
The CAC reiterated the need for Nigerians to desist from acts capable of bringing the country to disrepute, particularly in this era of Information Technology where interception of this nature would be Internet based.
He promised that the Nigeria Customs Service would resist any attempt by any individual or organization to use Nigeria as a conduit pipe for illicit transactions and noted that Interpol Nigeria would subject the vehicles to due diligence investigation through the Courts and would eventually use their internal mechanisms for repatriation of the vehicles to the United States.
