Tin Can Customs Uncover Syndicate Forging Area Controller’s Signatures for Cargo Clearance

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Compt Kunle Oloyede, Tin Can Customs Area Comptroller

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has uncovered activities of a syndicate forging the signature of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Kunle Oloyede in order to clear containers from the command.

DAILY TREND gathered that a huge number of containers involved in the scam have been intercepted by the Command and are undergoing investigation at the enforcement unit.

The Tin Can Island Port has been famous for being the most notorious port in Nigeria with criminal activities, including forging of clearance documents popularly known as “Machine Outside” or M.O

In the past, the players in the forgery business are refered to as “Canteen Boys” who usually hang around the Tin Can Port food Canteen. Their activities temporarily died down when the former CGG of Customs Abudullahi Inde Dikko bursted and arrested members of the syndicate.

Apparently,the criminal scourge has reared its ugly head at the port again.

Even though it could not be ascertained if any human arrests were made in connection with the seized containers, our correspondent learnt from reliable sources that Compt Oloyede is angry about the development.

Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Uche Ejesieme confirmed the development to our correspondent, saying that the command was able to uncover activities of the criminals through the deployment of technology and artificial intelligence.

“The intercepted containers are being investigated, I cannot give you the number of containers intercepted, but the truth is that we uncovered a syndicate that forged the Comptroller’s signature and all the items associated thereto have been impounded and undergoing investigation.

“Don’t forget that in every trade value chain, there must be criminals on the prowl, but the good thing is that a set of ICT officers we have in the service, particularly these new officers brought from Abuja by Comptroller Kunle are helping to do a wonderful job.

Ejesieme said it was through efforts of ICT that the criminal acts were unearthed.

“If you go to the office now you would see them very busy with their system, checking and profiling the system.

“It is not new to us because we know that criminals would always want to be ahead of you, even in America which is best developed in technologies, we see people trying to be ahead of the government.
We on our own preempt some of these criminal acts and try to see how we can block them” he said

Ejesieme also revealed that the customs command is beginning to get the stakeholders buy-in on the VIN Valuation for Imported vehicles.

DAILY TREND reports that the VIN Valuation is a response to demands of stakeholders for a uniform value on imported vehicles.

According to the Tin Can Customs PRO, the redeployed VIN Valuation now accommodate values for used vehicles and an additional system value on depreciation of used vehicles.

He said that the complaints of freight forwarders and importers that value of some vehicles could not be found on the customs system have been addressed.

“In the course of implementation, we got some feedbacks which the Comptroller have escalated to the headquarters for constant upgrade of the system.

“For instance, some agents were complaining that some vehicles where not captured in the system, we have gotten all these feedbacks, and I can assure you that as we speak, most of the vehicles have been captured in the system.

“It is a gradual process, and if you look at the tension back then and now, you will discover that everyday, people seem to understand the VIN operations better”

“A dedicated seat for addressing VIN issues has been created at the command with ICT savvy officers, cases and application are treated with the speed of light” he said

While listing the gains of the VIN Valuation on activities of the command, Ejesieme said it has led to increase in revenue generation, enhancement of integration with other ministries department and agencies including Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) and the Nigerian Police.

Others includes; generation of accurate vehicle statistics for the federal government, enhancement of trade environment and encouragement of legitimate trade and improved ease of doing business.

“The CAC was part of the officers that developed the VIN Valuation, and he is well grounded, before coming to Tin Can Port, he was Comptroller in charge of ICT and Modernisation at Customs Headquarters in Abuja.

“When the CGC saw his contributions, he decided to add a bigger portfolio which is risk management, he is a Certified Risk Manager by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and also a trade facilitator” he said

Ejesieme told our correspondent that in order to increase knowledge of the VIN Valuation, the command have organized training programs for both customs officers and the clearing agents including the people that does the capturing for their jobs.

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