Customs pledges to redouble efforts in war against smuggling

The Zone B of Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Kaduna, has pledged to redouble its efforts in order to considerably improve the war against smuggling in its area of operations.

The Comptroller of the command, Mustafa Sarkin-Kebbi, made the pledge at a press briefing in Kaduna.

He said goods valued at over N1.05 billion smuggled into the country were seized by the Unit in the last six months between January and June 2019 within the command’s area of operation.

Sarkin-Kebbi said that the figure had doubled the seizures made within the same period in 2018, which was N504.1 million.

According to him, 623 seizures were made within the period under review, which included 153 vehicles, 8,618 bags of foreign rice, 820 cartons of Spaghetti, 167 bags of sugar and 147 bales of second hand clothing.

Others are 1,035 jerricans of vegetable oil, 333 pieces of used tyres and 1,550 packs of tramadol.

He further disclosed that 14 suspects were apprehended during the period, with two convicted and four being prosecuted while investigation continue on the remaining suspects.

He attributed the increase in the DPV to the considerable increase in the seizures made which were 623 in the first half of the year, as against 312 within the same period in 2018.

“For the remaining half of the year, we are going to redouble our efforts and makes sure that we improve considerably,” he said.

Sarkin-Kebbi advised smugglers to desist from the act and embrace lawful businesses.

“We will continue to ensure that they keep recording losses until they abandon the illegal trade.”

According to him, the command will continue to sensitise communities on the negative effects of smuggling to the country’s economy, including manufacturing and employment.

“It should not be only the customs, but other government agencies should also be enlightening the public about the ills of smuggling to the economy of this country,” he added.

He said smugglers are becoming deadly and sophisticated by the day, disclosing that the Command had lost some officers in Katsina and Kano.

Sarkin-Kebbi, however, said that the Customs service was equal to the task and would not be cowed by smugglers, their informants and other collaborators