Customs Strike Force dares smugglers, makes massive seizures of donkey hides, unprocessed woods worth N643.7m

*Rakes in over N3 bn revenue

*Our action is to inflict serious financial losses on economic saboteurs – Says DC Shuaibu

(Report by Udeme Clement):

Clearly, the Coordinator, Customs Strike Force Zone ‘A’, Deputy Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, and his men are battle-ready for smugglers sabotaging the nation’s economy, as the team makes massive seizures of Donkey Hides/skin, unprocessed woods and other items worth over NN643.7million in Duty Paid Value (DPV).

The team through doggedness and tenacity also intercepted 5 x 20ft containers of unprocessed logs of wood, 2x40ft (12,500 pieces) containers of donkey hides and skin. Also, 6 x 40ft and 1 x 20ft ( 3,891 sacks) containers of charcoal, 229 sacks of shoes, 167 pieces of used tyres and one unit of Mazda bus, with a cumulative duty paid value of N643,727,837.00.

These spectacular seizures are made just after one month, DC Shuaibu and his men intercepted Pangolin Scales and Elephant Tusks worth over N22.3 billion, even as the team swiftly arrested foreign nationals behind the crime.

Most remarkably, the team generated a whopping sum of over N3 billion for the Federal Government, though the Strike Force is more of enforcement Unit.

Addressing reporters during a press conference today, DC Shuaibu, explained that the N3 billion was realised from issuance of Demand Notices. This, he said was achieved through meticulous documentary checks by the ICT component, for
for the period he took over the leadership of the team.

Giving further details on the mind-boggling seizures, DC Shuaibu, stressed that the anti-smuggling operations, which led to these feats were carried out mainly through Intelligence.

DC Shuaibu, who is known to be a highly skilled enforcement officer, with outstanding track records of chasing smugglers in Zone ‘C’ Unit (the hinterland), is daring unrepentant smugglers operating within his area of coverage in Zone ‘A’.

His fearless expression:
“In the last six weeks, seizures valued at over N600 million had been made. Our action is to inflict serious financial losses on economic saboteurs. We didn’t record any casualty because our operations are intelligence driven.
We are using credible intelligence to defeat smugglers.

“We are vigilant and totally commited to the anti smuggling operations. Since smugglers had resolved to continue sabotaging our economy, our team is alert and will keep ahead of them by seizing their wares. If they keep smuggling, we will keep making more seizures.”

Speaking further, the Strike Force Coordinator frowned at nefarious activities of wood smugglers in the country. He emphasised that wood smuggling is detrimental to the economic ambience.

His displeasure : “In reality, the unpatriotic attitude of wood smugglers constitutes serious hazards to our economic environment, leading to deforestation and desertification”.

According to him;
“The export prohibition guideline is in tandem with government policies for protection of endangered species, protection of the local economy, to promote National Forest Policy approved by the Federal Executive Council. The policy aims at greatly assisting the nation’s sustainable management of its vast forest resources against deforestation.”

He disclosed that most of the unprocessed woods were brought in from Taraba area, while some were already on their way to Apapa seaport for export.
He said his team is giving more attention to exportation, to curb illegal exports capable of destroying the nation’s economy.