THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been hit by another scandal as the United States government has uncovered a case of a huge bribe allegedly paid to the NCS officials by Panalpina World Transport Limited.
US investigators alleged that a $2 million bribe was paid by Panalpina on behalf of Vetco International Limited, an oil and gas company based in Britain, to NCS officials so as to charge lower duties and tariffs on goods brought into the country by Vetco.
Already, the US authorities have slammed a fine put at about $26 million on Vetco for its alleged action and the company is said to have agreed to pay the fine, considered the severest penalty in a foreign bribery case.
The latest probe followed the new resolve of the US to expand the enforcement of laws against officials involved in bribery scandals, irrespective of whether the culprits were American or foreign companies.
It will be recalled that in September 2007, Panalpina was forced to suspend part of its operation in Nigeria following the discovery of its sleazy relationship with Nigeria Customs Service.
The embattled multi-national freight forwarding company had pleaded guilty to the charge of bribery and had already launched its own internal probe to determine the level of culpability of those said to be involved.
In Nigeria, the US investigators are collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Sources said they were also looking into other allegations of bribes paid to officials of Nigeria Customs by Panalpina on behalf of its other international clients.
When the Nigerian Tribune contacted the Customs high command, its spokesman, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, for his reaction, he said: �I don�t have any update on the issue. The Customs is not handling the investigation. It is being conducted by the EFCC. We heard of it when the story broke. But till now, I don�t have any update on it,� Adeniyi said.