Hyacinth Chinweuba
Federal Operations Unit, Zone A Ikeja Lagos of Nigeria Customs Service, said it has placed it’s men on red alert against smuggling with a vow to arrest perpetrators during the Sallah holidays and beyond.
The Controller of the command, Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu, who confirmed this to our reporter, said his men have been properly reassigned and positioned to arrest smugglers and seize their wares.
Mohammed said the unit is working on intelligence and the possibility of smugglers to take advantage of the season to smuggle.
“As I speak to you, we are not on holiday, we are working round the clock for 24hours to detect and forestall any attempt by smugglers to take advantage of the period.
“Our men are fully on the ground and ready as usual. In fact, I personally worked on the roaster to ensure full presence of our operatives.
“We are not strangers to them so we understand their antics. If they dare us, their goods will be seized as usual and they will be arrested to face the law.
“Any smuggler trying to operate will be surprised at the swift manner my men will arrest them. I am using this opportunity to advise those contemplating to smuggle to desist now because we will catch them” he said.
He said his men are ever ready and has been properly stationed even before the holiday was declared.
The unit recently made seizures worth over N17b comprising of N15b donkey skin, assorted high profile vehicles, rice and other goods.