Western Marine Customs Intercepts contrabands  worth N43.917 Million … Laments inadequate patrol boats

This is contained in a press statement made available to our correspondent by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Emmanuel Tangwa in Lagos, yesterday.

Tangwa said the items intercepted in the last six months included, Frozen poultry products, parboiled bags of rice, cannabis, petroleum products, among others.

The statement stated that sixteen seizures were made possible by officers and men of the amphibian unit of the Service.

It stated also that at the beginning of the year, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Benjamin.N Binga came up with new strategies aimed at achieving maximum and efficient operations.

“The figure above shows an increase in the number of seizures as well an increase in the DPV of the period under review when compared with the corresponding period of the previous year 2018.

“The emphasis of the Comptroller General on the need to suppress smugglers coupled with the renewed zeal by the command has paid off.

“This is reflected in the increased number of seizures. It is expected that more achievements will be recorded in the remaining part of the year.”

According to the release, 24 hours patrol of the creeks and waterfronts of the western axis was enforced adding that “Operation Total Blockade” was strengthened thus sending signals to die hard smugglers.

While reiterating the achievements recorded in the period under review, the statement noted that 40 personnel of the eastern and western were empowered through the in-country training as directed by management of the service.

“40 officers of both eastern and western commands underwent an in- country training on the new sea going vessels acquired by the service.

“The training was conducted by Portplus Limited  for four weeks  from 24th March to 18th April 2019. This was aimed at giving the officers safety procedures onboard the vessels while at sea .

On the challenges faced by the command, the statement signed by Comptroller pointed out “Inadequate patrol boats are a major obstacles confronting the command. This has limited coverage of water ways and creeks by the command.

“The vessels acquired by the service are yet to be deployed for operations in the high sea .Headquarters has given directives for mounting of arms onboard the vessels.

He also stated another setback faced by the command centred on the high cost of repairing and maintenance of existing patrol boats.