Customs in Katsina State rattles die-hard smugglers

Customs in Katsina State rattles die-hard smugglers

* Seizes 10 vehicles, N69.6 million contraband

* As Compt Wada holds community forum

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Katsina State Command, Compt Chedi Wada has sustained his anti-smuggling onslaught against die-hard smugglers sabotaging the nation’s economy in Katsina State. This led to the seizure of 10 vehicles and other contraband with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N69.6million in just one month.

Compt Wada remains un-deterred and unbeatable in the fight against illicit trade despite hostility and attacks by smugglers on his officers. The records of his impressive performance in 2021 fiscal year and January 2022 are clear evidents that Compt Wada is leaving no stone unturned in seizing prohibited items smuggled into Katrina State illegally.

Speaking during Customs/Community Consultative Forum and press conference on anti smuggling efforts he organised on Thursday Februry 3, 2022, Compt Wada revealed, “The
vehicles seized by the Command in the month of January 2022 include one Volkswagen Golf – 3 worth N742, 500.00; one Volkswagen Passat with DPV of N715, 500.00; one Volkswagen worth N729,000.00; Honda Civic worth N607,500.00; a Navy blue Volkswagen Golf – 3 with DPV of N756,000.00;
one used Mitsubishi Canter worth N5.4million.

“J5 Bus worth N945,000.00; one used Honda Accord worth N742,000.00, Mercedes Benz C – Class 2015 Model worth N12.5million and blue Volkswagen Passat worth N958,500.00, among others; with total DPV of N24,151,000.00
(approximately N24.2million.”

Within the same month, the Command also intercepted 629 bags of foreign rice worth N15.9million; 826 cartons of foreign spaghetti with DPV of N4.9million; 16 cartons of foreign tomato paste worth N264,000.00; 79 cartons of foreign couscous with DPV of N582,000.00; 110 jerrycans of vegetable oil worth N2.7million; 338 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth N1.3million; 96 cartons of foreign Milky Creamer Milk worth N2million;
46 cartons of foreign Ginny Milky worth over N1million; 50 bales of secondhand clothings worth N7.2million in DPV; 8 bales of new blanket valued at N4.8million; 79 cartons of foreign macaroni valued at N474,000.00; 54 wraps of second hand clothings, among other seized items worth N45,457,000.00, approximately N45.5million, making a grand total of N69.6million as shown above.

Giving more highlights on activities of his Command, Compt Wada expressed strong displeasure on the nefarious activities of smugglers in Katsina State, who collaborate with bandits to attack officers carrying out their statutory duties, thereby making the Command to record casualties.

He informed : “We have 12 official borders in Katsina but at present, there are more than 100 illegal entry and exit routes created by smugglers for illicit trade.

“Our officers cannot be everywhere. In fact, even if you bring all the Customs officers in Nigeria to Katsina, we cannot adequately man the borders. That is why we need credible information from the public to check illegal activities of smugglers.

“However, we are working tirelessly to ensure that our officers are always on ground at all official borders, even as we also go on routine patrol to curb smuggling across the State”.

The programme was attended by his Excellency, the Governor of Katsina State, represented by Secretary to the State government Dr Mustafa Inuwa, Emire of Katsina – represented by retired ACG Lawal Idris Bagiwa Sarkin Fulani Katsina, Emire of Daura – represented by Galadiman Daura District Head of
Maiadua – Dr Ahmed Ahmed and retired Compt.UK Bello Kanwa Katsina Grand patron NUJ, KTTV chapter.