Amid fuel scarcity, Customs intercepts 37,000 Litres Of smuggled PMS in Ogun

Abiola seun

Amid biting fuel scarcity that has disrupted economic activities across the country, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, said it intercepted 37,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as, petrol in a community in Ogun-State.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, the Acting Controller, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, AG .Compt. Hussein Ejibunu, also stated that 11 trucks were intercepted for smuggling 6,749 bags of 50kg of smuggled parboiled rice.

Ejibunu, however, stated that the PMS interception was made at Igbo-Iberu, a community in Ogun State on the verge of being transported to Cotonou, Benin Republic.

He said, “No body can stop smuggling outrightly, we are trying our best. Just few days ago, we brought in almost 1,134 kegs of PMS at Igbo Iberu. That community is not far from Iwoye where the smugglers plan to load and link French country in five minute.

“But, before they could evacuate the consignment, we got them and brought them here. The government, has tried and we are making effort as well to end petrol smuggling and due to that, we want to establish a unit solely for fuel smuggling and they have nothing to do other than looking for fuel and on daily basis.”

He, however, said the service will,  henceforth, go after the kingpins who smuggle petrol out of the country.

“We know smugglers are highly unrelenting, but, we are getting to where we will get them, because now, we will look for the kingpins, because those small rats are not the one, there is someone somewhere blowing the trumpet,” he said.

Ejibunu, further stated that revenue generated through recoveries of low value, transfer of value, wrong classification and public auction sales of PMS amounted to N588million.

He also stated South-West zone has become quite hot for smugglers to operate freely in recent time, saying, smuggling is a monster with direct link to insecurity and drug abuse.

“For the purpose of today’s briefing, the unit is showcasing the under-listed seizures which were intercepted between the 3rd and 28th of February, 2022. They are, 6,749 bags of smuggled parboiled rice at 50kg each equivalent to 11 trailers load.

“36,575 litres of PMS, 599 bales of second hand clothing, 906 cartons of frozen poultry products, 2,001 pieces of used tyres, 175 pieces of used compressors, 180 cartons of foreign soap, 52 used fridges, 285 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products and 13 units of fairly used vehicles.

Others are,  15 cartons and 23 bales of lace materials, 338 cartons of mosquito repellant, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N589million while, revenue generated from low value, transfer of value, wrong classification and public auction sales of PMS amounted to N79million.

“Revenue generated through recoveries of low value, transfer of value, wrong classification and public auction sales of PMS amounted to N79million.

” You will agree with me today that South-West zone,  has become quite hot for smugglers to operate freely in recent time.

” We are, however, not singing a victory song yet because of what we still have up our sleeves.

” Smuggling is a complete monster with a direct link to illicit drugs and drug abuse, armed robbery, kidnapping, balance of trade deficit, unemployment, increased crime waves, high mortality rate as a result of fake drugs and youth restiveness. It is therefore our collective responsibility to say no to smuggling.”