The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2 with headquarters in Lagos, on Friday, 28th June, 2024 announced the interception of 4,051 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3,751 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS and 425 cartons of frozen poultry products across the South-West Zone of Nigeria.
The Sector Commander, Deputy Comptroller Mohammed Salisu Shuaibu, who announced the seizures at a briefing held in Ikeja Lagos, said the sector also intercepted the followings, 30 sacks, 85 blocks and 125 wraps of cannabis sativa, 912 pieces of used tyres, 7 used vehicles, 30 vehicles used as means of conyenace of the seized items, 1 truck and 4 bicycles, while 5 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
According to the anti-smuggling czar, all the seized items contravened various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines.
“These crimes have multiple effects such as; undermining national security through the movements of illicit goods, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, across the international borders, and impacts negatively on the economy by depleting the nation’s revenue base through duties and tax evasion.
“In our effort to actualize the mandate of combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, we intercepted some goods for violating various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Government’s Import and Export Guidelines worth a total duty paid value (DPV) of One Billion, One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira (₦1,128,684,900).
“The wares were intercepted across the borders of the six states of the South-West Geo-political zone. Five (5) suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures, Comptroller Shuaibu stated.
He added, “the seized goods were seized and deposited at Seme, Ogun I, Ogun II, Oyo/Osun and Ondo Ekiti Area Commands Government Warehouses.
“With the Nigeria Immigration Service as a critical component of the Joint Border Patrol Team, we intercepted 30 illegal immigrants suspected to have violated immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and prosecution.
“The Sector also recovered a total of Eleven Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventeen Naira (₦11,593,217) Revenue through the issuance of Debit Notes (DN) on vehicles and other goods improperly imported into the country.
“Today we are showcasing a total of One Thousand Four Hundred and Ten (1,410) Jerry cans of PMS (30litres) each that were seized from different locations within our Area of Responsibility.
“These PMS were seized within one week following intensive patrol activities by the officers and men of the sector. This is only a fraction of the PMS seized by the Sector as many were deposited and auctioned in other Government Warehouses within the Zone.
“My profound gratitude goes to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, psc(+) and his management team for making these achievements possible by supporting us with the needed logistics”.
According to Comptroller Shuaibu, the team exists to curb smuggling and combat other criminal trans-border activities that are threatening national and economic security in Nigeria.
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