Customs Licenced Agents Accuse Eastern Bonded Warehouse Owners of Subverting Duty Payment
…Accuse Customs Officials of Connivance
From ERIC MOORE, Port Harcourt
Licenced Customs agents operating at the Onne Port in Rivers State, have cried out that owners of Eastern bonded warehouses were “killing” their business.
They agents who individually spoke to Pentoks News, alleged that owners of the bonded warehouses operate with some officials of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the racketeering.
Investigation revealed that some owners of bonded warehouses conceal goods they clear at the sea port and sabotage the revenue accruable to Federal Government by under-paying approved Customs duties.
According to them, the Eastern bonded warehouse owners use concealment in clearing goods at the port at lower rates, thereby undermining the business relationships they have with their clients.
One of the Customs licenced agents at Area 2, Onne, identified as Nelson, lamented that they owners of bonded warehouses are using goods concealment and delivery to push them out from business.
He lamented: “The bonded warehouse owners are not allowing us to do our normal business. They use “used spare parts” to subvert import duties.
“Some of us are losing our clients to owners of bonded warehouses because of these their activities. It is really affecting us badly and we cannot continue this way.
Another licenced agent, Chukwudi, corroborated Nelson’s allegation, adding that it is difficult to convince an importer whose goods were cleared with low amount to give business to someone with a high amount.
He said: “As I am talking to you, I know how many millions I am losing. After you have cleared the goods at the sea port and delivered them to your clients, when you present your bill, your clients would tell you that Mr. Okereke spent lower amount to clear his containers. Why is your own different?
“And, when you investigate this claim, you find out that it is true, because they (bonded warehouses owners) are using all these “used spare parts” to do the job. The thing is really affecting us.”
The agents, however, called on relevant government authorities to investigate this allegation and nip in the bud such criminal activities going on at the Onne sea port.
Ends.