…As Zone ‘B’ Strike Force seizes only N139.7m Contraband in 2 months***
The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) may be more enterprising than Customs Zone ‘B’, as the border command intercepted 24 fairly-used vehicles, 1,716 bags of imported rice within only seven weeks and posted a Duty Paid Value (DPV) revenue figure of N182.9.
The NCS, Zone ‘B’ CGC Strike Force, however, only confiscated goods with DPV figure of N139.71 million, between October and November across the entire zone.
The new Customs Area Controller of Seme, Comptroller Bello Jibo, told a news conference on Monday at Seme border, Lagos State, that the command recorded a total of 128 seizures, including 1,148 jerry cans of Petrol between October and November.
“A total of 128 interceptions were made, with duty paid value of N182, 887,347.
“The contraband seized includes 1,716 bags of foreign rice, 1,148 Jerry can of petrol, altogether 28,700 litres, 17 Jerry cans of vegetable oil and 10 Jerry cans of coconut oil.
“Others are 24 units of smuggled vehicles, three motorcycles, 991 pieces of medicament, 30 pieces of used tyres, eight cartons of 25 bottles each of apetamin multivitamin syrups and 48 packets of tramadol.
“Also we seized 397 packages of 144 rubber condoms, 395 cartons of different tin tomatoes, 332 pieces and 120 bottles of betadine mouth wash, 160 capsules, and 100 sachets of efferalgen paracetamol.
“Others are 41 bottles of paracetamol syrup, five bottles of mealop syrup and 101 parcels of cannabis sativa known as India hemp,” he said.
The Controller said that the perpetrators of the evil acts fled on sighting the officials and abandoned the vehicles and contraband.
“Officers and men of the command will continue to exercise their statutory responsibilities in the overall socio-economic prosperity of the nation.
“I wish to register my appreciation to the community leaders, the youths and other security agencies, especially the military for their support, patriotism and collaboration.
“Nigeria customs service will continue to facilitate and encourage compliant traders and at the same time police our borders effectively,” Jibo said.
Also read: OYO/OSUN COMMAND: Customs intercepts 624 bags of rice, 214 kegs of petrol after Endsars protest
In the meantime, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘B’ CGC Strike Force, says it only confiscated goods with duty paid value (DPV) worth N139.71 million between October and November across the zone.
The Coordinator of the force, DC Aliyu Olorukoba, stated this during a briefing on the command’s activities in the last two months, yesterday in Kaduna.
He listed the items seized to include 745 bags of foreign per boiled rice, 16 vehicles in two seizures as well as 622 bales and three sacks of second-hand clothes.
Others were 564 25-litre kegs of vegetable oil, 258 cartons of tomato paste, 208 parcels of Cannabis sativa and 121 cartons of pharmaceutical drugs, which, he said, were still under investigation.
Olorukoba added that 821 cartons of foreign spaghetti noodles, 35 cartons of mosquito coils and 370 25-litre kegs of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) were also impounded within the same period.
According to him, the seizures which is in compliance with the Comptroller-General’s matching order to stop smuggling activities within the zone
The coordinator further advised smugglers to change for the better and start legitimate trade or they move out of the state.
“The Comptroller-General has equipped and motivated us to do everything possible within the law to stop smuggling and that remains our focus, while we create a conducive environment for legitimate trading public,” he said.
Olorukoba attributed the successes recorded in the zone to intelligence reports and the unwavering efforts of the customs personnel.
He assured that the unit would not relent in curtailing the activities of smugglers in the zone, appealing to the media to help enlighten the public on the dangers of smuggling.
The states within the zone include: Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kwara, Niger and Plateau.
