Customs Seize Smuggled Items Worth N2.383bn

The Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, said it seized 47,601 bags of parboiled rice and other prohibited items valued at N2,383,401,660b in the last thirteen months, with the duty paid.

The Controller, Peter Chado Kolo, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the scorecard of the Command for the year 2020 and January 2021, held at the Sentry, Idi Iroko Border Post, said the seizure included foreign parboiled rice, petroleum products, poultry products, used tyres, second-hand clothing, dangerous drugs (tramadol and cannabis sativa), palm oil, assorted soap, and body cream.

Kolo said that 512 vehicles and other means of conveyance were also confiscated in the period under review.

On the revenue generated by the Command within the period, Kolo said N65,770million was raked in through fees collected from the auction sales of seized petroleum products.

He explained that the major source of revenue of the Command from import and export has not been in operation since the closure of the Land Borders as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, noting “the only source of revenue for the Command as of today are fees collected from the auction sales of seized petroleum products and other perishable items”.

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Kolo, however, said the Command was able to record the achievements due to some bold steps taken by his management.

The steps, according to him, included aggressive stakeholders engagement and management, deployment of intelligence in all the operations across the state, structural reorganization of the command, the improved motivation of officers, improved discipline, and total dedication to duty by officers of the command.

While recalling that some officers and men of the Command suffered attacks from smugglers while performing their lawful duties, the CAC said his command would not be deterred by such attacks, vowing that Ogun 1 Area Command would step up its anti-smuggling operations.

He appealed to parents and guardians residing in border communities to prevail on their children, wards, and youths to desist from such criminal acts such as smuggling and attack on Security agencies.

The customs boss further said the command had embarked on a catch-them-young sensitisations to some secondary schools in border communities, to educate the students on the dangers inherent in smuggling activities, while encouraging them to aspire for a future career in the Nigeria Customs Service.