Again : Ogun Customs records N1.3 bn seizures

Again : Ogun Customs records N1.3 bn seizures

* 14 trailers of rice, petrol, adulterated diesel worth N81.8 million, hard drugs on list of seizures

The Ogun 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has made another landmark achievement in anti-smuggling drive with massive seizures worth over N1.3billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV).

This giant stride is coming less than two months after the same Command recorded mind-boggling seizures comprising of engines of speed boats, foreign rice concealed in car engines, among other items.

Addressing Journalists during a press conference at Idiroko, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, (CAC), Compt. Bamidele Abiodun Makinde- fsi mni psc+ disclosed that between the months of of May and June 2022, the Command’s anti-smuggling operations gained momentum and culminated into seizures of two Trucks laden with 882 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), along Abeokuta axis, Ogun State; and a total of 8,417 bags of rice worth N131.4million, which is equivalent of 14 trailer loads, were seized within the period
under review.

The CAC said the seizures were carried out in line with Sections 46 and 169, of the Customs and Excise Management Act CEMA, Cap
C45 L.F.N. 2004.

In the same vein, the Command intercepted a smuggled truck loaded with 320 cartons of imported foot wears, which falls under Import Prohibition List, Schedule 3 of Common External Tariff ( CET), with DPV of N764,974,800.00,

Other seized items include a
fuel tanker with 45,000 litres of adulterated diesel worth N81.8 million, abandoned by suspected bunkerer, who absconded upon sighting the Customs operatives, along Sagamu/Ijebuode Expressway, Ogun State. In addition, 10,973 litres of petrol was seized and disposed of, in line with extant laws.

Compt Makinde informed :  “You will agree with me that if such large quantity of foreign parboiled rice had found its way into the Nigerian markets, it would have
undermined the Federal Government Agricultural Policy on local rice production.

“As part of our collaboration with sister security agencies in
the State, our operatives in the course of their routine patrol duties
intercepted illicit drugs and narcotics, namely 117 small sacks, 6 big sacks,
1,100 wraps (book size), 81 wraps (coconut size) of Cannabis Sativa and 1 carton containing 1,100 packets of Tramol (225mg per tablet x 10), 300
packets of Tramol (100mg per tablet x 10) and 168 packets of Cocodamol Codein (500mg per tablet x 8) with
DPV of N221 820,820.00.

Seized items :

“Other seized items include: 390 Cartons of Frozen Poultry Products; 19 bales and 104 Sacks of foreign used Clothes; 120 cartons of new foot wears (including 23 pairs of new slippers)
and 53 cartons of foreign used shoes;
122 Cartons of Foreign Wine;
72 used Compressor;
10 Units of Vehicles – used as means of conveyance; 2 Units Tokunbo vehicles;
4 Units of Motorcycle (used as means of conveyance); 289 Cartons of imported Tomato Paste and vehicle spare parts.

“The cumulative DPV for all the seizures amounts to N1,290,108, 608.00, approximately N1.3billion.”

Speaking further, the CAC revealed :
“The Command generated a total sum of N12.8million from importation and auction sales of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, intercepted at different locations and exit points to Republic of Benin during anti-smuggling operations.

The CAC stressed :
“Our intelligence network in the
Command is continuously strengthened for an improved and efficient performance. We deploy intelligence in virtually all our operations in the area and greater successes are being recorded on daily basis.

“This is for the smugglers cum criminal elements in the state to note that we are always ahead of them. Their antics and nefarious activities, shall always be uncovered. We shall make seizures and arrests which could inflict gross financial losses on such perpetuators”.

He enthused :
“Let me at this point thank our sister Security agencies, critical
stakeholders and Traditional Rulers for their collaborative efforts and synergy with us while carrying out our statutory mandate in the state. May I also thank and appreciate members of the media for their objective news report. I would like to sincerely thank the CGC and his management team for their consistent support “.

More so, the CAC handed over the seized drugs to  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA), in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration.

In fact, in the last few months, Compt Makinde and his enforcement officers have given smugglers at Idiroko a tough time through increased surveillance on the border communities, bush paths and even within the creeks.