War against smuggling : Ogun Customs records N3.4bn seizures

War against smuggling :
Ogun Customs records N3.4bn seizures

* Intercepts 43 trailers of rice, 900 matchets, 661 wraps of Cannabis Sativa; 9 tankers of petrol, others

Just few weeks after making spectacular seizures of prohibited items worth millions of Naira at Idiroko border, Ogun 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is in the news again for outstanding performance in anti-smuggling operations.

The Command under the leadership of Compt Bamidele Makinde as the Customs Area Controller (CAC), has demonstrated doggedness and tenacity in the fight against illicit trade at a volatile terrain like Idiroko, in order to protect the economic ambience from influx of offensive items.

Briefing Journalists on activities of the Command in half year of 2022, Compt  Makinde disclosed that his team seized 25,906 bags of foreign rice, equivalent of 43 trailer loads; 900 matchets; 1433 cartons of frozen poultry products; 258 sacks/661 wraps of Cannabis Sativa; 140 used tyres; 11,645 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other items worth over N3.4billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV).

According to him :
“Other seizures include; 9 tankers of smuggled petrol; 72 units of vehicles including Marcopolo bus; 20 motorcycles; illicit drugs-1,400 packets, 2,250 sachets of tramadol;
168 packets of Codeine; 289 cartons of tomato; 343 cartons of foreign wine;
34 bales/113 sacks of second-hand clothes; 64 sacks & 2,218 pairs of used footwears; 328 cartons of new footwears; 180 female hand-bags;
375 bales  of textile materials and other seized items with cumulative DPV of N3.4billion, as stated above”.

He added :
“A comparative analysis of the Command’s performance during the period under review and half year of 2021 indicates a significant increase in revenue collection and value of seizures recorded.”

Our news inquest revealed that though Ogun -1 Command is not a revenue generating formation, the Command collected N15,261,074.00, revenue last year and made tremendous increase in 2022 with N29,940,146.50 collection.

The CAC pointed out :
“During the period under review, the Command generated a total sum
of N29,940,146.50 from import duties and auction sales of PMS seized from smugglers.”

The CAC informed :
“Estimated DPV of items seized this year, which is N3,400,226,707.00
billion is higher than last year record of N834,765,273.00, which shows 400 percent increase. The Command was able to make these achievements due to the following steps:
continuous stakeholders engagement and support from top Customs management. Deployment of intelligence in all operations across the state.

“Structural reorganisation of the Command.  Improved motivation of officers by Customs Management as
exemplified by operational vehicles allocated to the Command recently and provision of accommodation in
various outstations within the Command. Improved discipline and total dedication to duty by officers of
the Command”.

His assertions :
“The Command will continue to sensitise the public on economic implications of smuggling, as well as performing its statutory functions of enforcing compliance in line with government fiscal policies.

“We shall strengthen the Customs-Community Relations and
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within our capacity.

” As part of our stakeholders’ engagement, we paid courtesy visits to
traditional rulers in various communities in the State. We sought their support in combating smuggling and urged them to educate their subjects on the menace of smuggling and incessant attacks on security operatives discharging their statutory duties.

“We also visited Heads of various Security Agencies for a cordial working synergy in the State. Let me thank and appreciate the continuous support of CGC Hameed Ibrahim Ali, his management team, the gallant Officers and Men of the Command.

“May I also express my profound gratitude to our critical stakeholders, members of the press, other security agencies, community leaders and traditional rulers for their continuous collaborative efforts and synergy with the Service while carrying out our statutory mandates in the state”

OBSERVATION :

Recall that Ogun 1 Command under Compt Makinde as the Area Controller has recorded remarkable feats in anti-smuggling drive with massive seizures made since he came on board, even as his consistency stands him out always.