Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Nigeria customs service of Western Marine command has disclosed that a stamp duty paid value for the year 2019 amounted to one hundred and twenty nine million, five hundred and fifty nine thousand, six hundred and fifty six naira, forty six Kobo (N129,559,656.46) has been raised as against ninety eight million, one hundred and sixty four thousand, eight hundred and sixty five Naira, seventeen Kobo, (N98,164,865.17).
The Command is saddled with the statutory function of suppression of smuggling activities and enforcement of other extant laws that the service may assign to it from time to time.
According to report sent by the Command’s spokesperson ASC 1 Tangwa Emmanuel, “our operational area covers the whole south-western axis of the country’s water-ways and creeks”
“Outstations within the command are located in Idiroko (Ogun State), Bar Beach (the entry point of all ships/vessels) into Nigeria Lagos Ports, Yekeme, Igbokoda (Ondo state), Ijora and Badagry several creeks.
Tangwa further stated that the beginning of the year 2019, the CAC roll out new strategies aimed at achieving maximum and efficient operation. One of such strategy was a 24hrs patrol of the creeks and waterfronts of the Western axis by officers and men of the command.
Secondly “operation total blockade” was strengthened thus sending serious signals to smugglers.
Thirdly, the CAC organized several interactive meetings with the border communities from Akere, Idiroko, Ere, Badagry and Yekeme outstations in a view of letting them know the ills and dangers of smuggling to the Nigeria State and rhe economy. The outcome of these meetings according to Tangwa was tremendous. It led to a substantive reduction in smuggling along the creeks and the water-ways.
Fourthly, as a result of the Operation border drill, the CAC deemed it necessary to open up an Outpost at Ibeshe community a major outlet to the high-sea to checkmate the activities of smugglers. Officers and men of the command are stationed there on a 24hrs patrol. This initiative led to several seizures made by the command during the festive season.
The aforementioned strategies led to improvement in the Command’s anti-smuggling activities.
The Command’s spokesperson said that a total of thirty (30) seizures of various items namely: foreign parboiled Rice, frozen poultry products, cannabis, petroleum products, second hand shoes and clothes, security agency uniforms, plain materials and wrappers, tramadol, buffalo horns etc. It is worth noting that anti-smuggling activities in the year under review was higher than the previous year 2018.
Tangwa stated also that it’s Command duty paid value for the year 2019 amounted to one hundred and twenty nine million, five hundred and fifty nine thousand, six hundred and fifty six naira, forty six Kobo (N129,559,656.46) as against ninety eight million, one hundred and sixty four thousand, eight hundred and sixty five Naira, seventeen Kobo, (N98,164,865.17).
The seizures were made at different times and at various places within the Command’s area of jurisdiction like Aseke, Choki, Ibeshe Beach, Ere, Akere, High Sea, Idiroko, Badagry, Bawe, Alaba market water-side, etc. With the commissioning of the customs Sea-going vessels, on Thursday 12th September, 2019 in Lagos, anti-smuggling activities of rhe Command were strengthened.
