A rage against petrol smugglers :   Seme Customs Intercepts PMS worth over N12.5million at the creeks

A rage against petrol smugglers :   Seme Customs Intercepts PMS worth over N12.5million at the creeks

The Customs Area Controller, (CAC) of Seme Border Command, Compt. Bello Mohammed Jibo and his enforcement officers are increasing their tempo of anti-smuggling onslaught against economic saboteurs at the border communities between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

This is evident in the massive seizure of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, worth over N12.5million, at the creeks within the border communities.

Our Correspondent noted that this spectacular seizure of N12.5million worth of petrol is just one of many seizures of PMS recorded by Compt. Jibo at Seme Command of Nigeria Customs Service recently.

In a press statement made available to our News platform by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Seme Command, DSC HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI,
he said the latest seizure was part of
the continuous offensive patrol against smuggling of petroleum products along the creeks within Seme and Badagry axis by officers and men of the Command.

He revealed that the seizure was made on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, as jerrycans of the smuggled fuel were packaged in sacks. During physical examination, 1,300 jerrycans of petroleum products in thirty (30) litres each, equivalent to thirty nine thousand (39,000) litres were discovered.

His explanation :
“The aforementioned item has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of twelve million, five hundred and forty three thousand, nine hundred and sixty Naira (N12,5milliom).

“This seizure is coming at a time when the Federal Government is spending huge resources to subsidise the products to ameliorate the plight of its citizens.
These unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements are bent on sabotaging the efforts of government.

” It is on this premise that the officers and men of the Command, redoubled their efforts with renewed vigor in the fight against smuggling of petroleum products.”

Accordingly, Compt Jibo attributed the successes recorded to consistency on the part of the Service management in providing needed logistics, adequate work-tools, support and ensuring that hard working officers are recognised and rewarded, most especially through promotions.

The CAC affirmed that, continuous monitoring and surveillance of the border axis contributed to suppression of illegal activities, by sending the right signals to people involved in such unfortunate act of illicit trade to desist and face lawful businesses along the border axis.

He emphasised :
“The Command remains committed in ensuring that illegal and unlawful businesses are suppressed and discouraged at our borders.”