Customs intercepts 55 smuggled vehicles at Seme in two months

Abiola Seun |

The Seme border command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it intercepted 55 used vehicles smuggled into the country through the Nigerian borders.

The command through the spokesman, Hussein Abdulahi made this known against the backdrop of allegation of bribery by the command to allow smuggled cargoes into the country.

Hussein in a press statement made available to newsmen said the interception were made between two months.

He said, “Accordingly, since the inception of the border drill exercise on 20th August, 2019 to date, the commands recorded tremendous achievement in its anti-smuggling operations.
” The command within the period of the exercise intercepted 55 fairly used smuggled vehicles with DPV values worth millions of naira”.

He however debunked the allegations of bribery even as he urged any Nigerian with tangible evidence to avail the command or the service with it.

“The attention of Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a false narrative targeted to rubbish the Command and Nigeria Customs Service by one Abubakar A Aliyu on his tweeter handle, dated 2nd November, 2019 at about 8:22pm precisely.

The statement alleged that officers are collecting money in order to allow passage of fairly used vehicles into the country despite the border drill.

The Commands preliminary investigation found out that there is no iota of truth on what was alleged. Therefore, the report is not only baseless, but unfounded. However, the Command is calling on the public, especially the social media users to do proper investigations before throwing such serious allegations to media in order not to dampen the morale of officers that are working hard in the discharge of their duty.

We equally advised not only the likes of Abubakar A Aliyu, but the public with tangible evidence that can assist the Command to tackle some recalcitrant ones should please come forward for the benefit of all.

“In conclusion, it may interest the public to be aware that, the management of the Nigeria Customs Service, has introduced some palliative measures to help those whose vehicles are impounded and detained, or those that have vehicles without duty, and are willing to pay duty should approach the nearest federal operations unit to the pay their duty.”