Customs in Adamawa/Taraba Seizes  N98.3million petroleum products, Pangolin scales, others  *Arrests 20 suspects

Customs in Adamawa/Taraba Seizes  N98.3million petroleum products, Pangolin scales, others

*Arrests 20 suspects

By Udeme Clement & Fact Check News:

The news reaching us from Adamawa/Taraba Command of Nigeria  Customs Service, NCS, revealed that the Command has recorded seizures of  foreign rice, 330kg Pangolin scales,  33,000 litres of petroleum products and other prohibited items worth over  N98.3 million in Duty Paid Value, DPV, in 2019.

The Command also arrested 20 suspects in connection with illicit trade.

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Command Kamaludeen Olumoh, disclosed this in a press statement signed and made available to reporters.

He informed, “Our Command  through the Enforcement Unit realised a total revenue of N161.9million, showing an increase of N13.2 million (or 8.9 percent), over the given target of N148.6 million”.

He pointed out, “The feat was made possible through the measures put in place to enhance revenue collection.

“Such measures include sensitisation of stakeholders on import and export procedures, effective border community relations leading to suppression of smuggling, bringing into tax net various items and commodities and the resolve by officers towards commitment to statutory duties.

“During the year under review, the Command recorded a total of 74 seizures.”

His words, “These achievements were made despite daunting challenges on covering the vast international border, Boko Haram insurgency, communal clashes and non adherence to import and export guidelines by traders, notwithstanding sensitisation.

“The Command will achieve more in 2020, as we are stepping up anti-smuggling efforts and sustaining stakeholders engagement on import, as well as export guidelines.

“These measures will enhance revenue generation for government.”