National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team has issued a warning to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Plant Quarantine Service (PQS)to desist from further stealing of items from the examination bay in the guise of sampling, warning that it has resolved to put an end to the “rampant stealing”.
The Team gave the warning in a letter to the organizations ,signed by the Coordinator of the NAGAFF 100% Compliance ,Hon (Dr.) Ibrahim Tanko, said importers and Freight Forwarders /Clearing Agents have been losing millions of Naira as a result of the unwholesome practice.
According to Dr. Tanko “members of NAGAFF can no longer cope with the tag of thieves and disdain with which their clients (importers) hold them because of missing items from their containers.
He further said “statutorily, NAFDAC and SON are supposed to collect samples, and with signed sampling forms, warning that the NAGAFF compliance office would henceforth resist illegal sampling practices from any organization, as well as report such perpetrators to the Port police”
The text of the letter reads:
“We write to notify you of our resolve to put a stop to the rampant stealing of items from containers during customs examination in the name of SAMPLING.
We note with displeasure the loss of millions Naira following complaints from our members and importers as a result of sampling.
We cannot cope with the disdain with which our clients tar us with the brush of thieves for the missing items in their boxes.
Statutorily, NAFDAC and STANDARD ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA are allowed to collect samples, and with signed SAMPLING FORMS.
This office will henceforth resist the illegal sampling practices and report the perpetrators to the Port Police” it concluded
