CRD Declares War on Mysterious Courier Companies

In a move aimed at cleansing the courier industry, Courier Regulatory Authority (CRD), the key police of the industry has begun a massive crack down on unregistered and illegal courier companies in Nigeria.

There are currently more than 150 registered companies with the CRD but a number of mushroom companies are suspected conduit for unethical services including price undercutting; dumping of goods, defrauding of customers and low tariff regimes.

CommunicationsWeek

investigations also revealed that some of the illegal companies are engaged by gun runners and drug peddlers to move their prohibited wares to and from different destinations.

The companies are also accused of not adhering to the weight standard, which is between 1/2 kg to 50 kg among others.

Dr Simon Emeje, senior assistant postmaster general in charge of the Courier Regulatory Authority said that "the development so far is that we have identified faceless companies. Before, we had a situation where they were directly seen outside. You could work to their address and get them. When they discovered that we were arresting them, they changed their strategy to a situation where the licensed courier companies were covering them. So, they bring in consignment under the cover of courier companies.

According to him, the illegal companies are faceless in the sense that even when you get to their so-called address, you will not find them.

"In pursuing them, we discovered that we had to spread our dragnet so wide; in the process, we discovered their location at the Airport particularly. They are like portfolio operators. They bring in consignment, sit somewhere, and clear those consignments through the airport" he added.