Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized bales of Mobile Police, immigration and Navy uniforms by the officers and men of the command within Badagry axis.
The Controller of the command, Comptroller Boliyila Binga stated this while conducting journalists round the seizures in Lagos.
According to the Customs boss, other items seized within two weeks include; Four hundred and thirty three bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, bags of second hand clothes, bags of second hand shoes, Buffalo horns bales of foreign fabrics
Other items are: Machetes, packs of tramadol, three thousand empty kegs of 20 litres each.
Comptroller Binga said the Duty Paid Value of the items seized is N61,611,925.00.
The amphibian customs boss added that the newly launched Custons sea goung vessels helped a great deal in the seizures.
Recall that the customs sea going vessels; Customs Pride and Group of Nine were deployed on 23rd of October, 2019 with ten men on-board.
In a statement issued at the end or the press briefing, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Emmanuel Tangwa, said the seizures were made at different locations within the commands area of jurisdiction, including high sea.
“It is worthy of note that worth the commissioning and subsequent launching of the commands sea going vessels, the tempo of smuggling increased.
“The officers and men of the command became more enthusiastic in performing their duties. All thanks to the Federal Government and Nigeria Customs Service management team led by the CGC Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd).”
“Some of these items which could be valued amounted to a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of sixty one million, six hundred and eleven thousand, nine hundred and twenty five naira only. (N61,611,925.00)”
“Even with the operation Ex-Swift other called Border Drill, some citizens have remained adamant and have refused to repent despite losing their contraband items running into millions of Naira. Instead of taking advantage of the federal government policy on agriculture especially in the area of rice production for the nation to be self-sufficient, they refuse to repent”
Furthermore, the Western Marine Customs Command Comptroller wnd his Officers and men have resolved not to rest on their oars.
“We want to make it clear to these economic saboteurs and their accomplices that Customs do not negotiate with smugglers, items found to be contraband will be seized and offenders prosecuted”
The Comptroller further calls on the general public and the journalist in the Maritime sector to assist the command and customs in general with useful information and give a true reportage of it’s activities. In addition to that, he appreciates journalist who have stood by the command and the service.
