The Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service significantly boosted the mandate of Smuggling suppression, revenue generation and trade facilitation by processing the export of locally manufactured goods worth over two billion naira within the month.
In the area of revenue collection, the command generated a sum of N162, 173,507 as revenue from import duty.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller J. O Attah highlighted this, noting that the figure was the highest since the reopening of the Kamba Border.
He stated that all this was achieved through strict enforcement of extant rules, adding that the command shall continue to ensure that those who choose to import or export goods through Kamba do so with the highest level of compliance to lay down regulations.
While commending the trading community for improved level of compliance, Attah looked forward to voluntary total compliance.
On suppression of smuggling, the controller hinted that the command’s undaunted effort to nip smuggling activities in the bud with the directive given to the operatives to intensify vigilance across vast bushes and all the waterways within Kebbi State paved off.
According to Attah, the effort yielded 16 seizures of assorted items which include, but not limited to the following:
*284 parcels (laptop size) of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp);
* 4 used vehicles (which are: 2 used Honda civic cars, 1 used man diesel truck and 1 tipper truck);
*139 bales of second-hand clothes;
*345 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each);
*2,250 litres of PMS;
*38 cartons of whitening (bleaching) cream;
* 80 pieces of solar batteries, among others.
The duty-paid value of the seized items stands at N78, 562,125.
The Controller said that while other seized items are financially quantifiable, the level of damage dangerous drugs and other substances cause in the society cannot be quantified.
He stated that such substance when unleashed in the society serves as catalyst for all the major crimes in society.
He promised that the seized cannabis will be handed over to NDLEA Kebbi State for further necessary action.
“We shall continue to pursue our given mandate of suppression of smuggling undeterred in spite of the challenges we sometimes encounter from citizens who due to ignorance or greed for some financial benefits support the criminals against our operatives.
“Let me remind such people that obstruction of duty or signaling to smugglers are crimes under sections 11 and 77 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA). We will not hesitate to invoke the full wrath of these sections of CEMA against any person or group whose intention or action is to prevent or limit our statutory operations,” he warned.
