Customs Seeks More Patrol Vehicles to Fight Smugglers

ABIOLA Seun |

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on the federal government for more patrol vehicles to fight smuggling in the South West.

This is even as the unit said it intercepted 30,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country from Benin Republic.

The unit also intercepted two Lexus bullet proof jeeps, four Toyota Hilux vehicles and Indian hemp, Tramadol and Codeine syrup along the Ogun State axis.

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the Customs Area Controller of FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Compt. Muhammed Aliyu said the unit is battle ready to engage smugglers who might have escaped Customs at the borders.

He said, “We have second hand clothing and over 30, 000 bags of rice. We have unprocessed woods is Indian hemp. We have called for more patrol vehicles in other to intercept more banned items coming in to the country.”

The ones that escape from the border will be arrested by the internal patrol of the service on the highway. We have different vehicles and the last time you came here we had about 29 vehicles of which 11 are bullet proof and worth over N1.1bn and now, we have additional three bullet proof vehicles and other brands of vehicles.

“Though, some of the vehicles are on detention while others are seized because we can’t just arrest and seize. We detain first and give a period of two weeks to bring the proper documents but if you don’t show up, we know you don’t have the documents then we seize and allow court to condemn to the federal government.”

Compt. Aliyu who justified the presence of FOU unit on the highway especially on the port road said dangerous items cleared from the ports were being arrested on the road by officers of the command.

“Our intra city patrol and presence on the streets have helped to arrest many banned items. For instance, the arms and ammunition that we arrested was on the road because it’s not everything we can block at the border but we do our best to see that we eliminate smuggling activities.”

He also disclosed that any items illegally brought into the country would be intercepted while those already in the warehouses would be picked up.

“The ones that come in through the borders will be blocked and picked up by the highway patrol while the ones that are already hiding in various houses and we have information that they are smuggled items would be picked up.”

However, speaking on need for more patrol vehicles the Customs boss said the four Toyota Hilux vehicles were intercepted with the newly acquired patrol vehicle made available to the unit by the Customs headquarters.

He however solicited for additional patrol vans in order to properly block the South West against smugglers as yuletide season beckons.

He said, “In the last few weeks, we have intercepted two Lexus bullet proof jeeps, four Toyota Hilux along Ogun axis and 1,050KG Indian hemp worth N210million and this is with the help of the patrol vehicles made available to us.”

Compt. Aliyu who also disclosed that the unit intercepted Tramadol and Codeine syrup advised the government to sensitise border communities on danger of smuggling to the economy of the country.

“The teeming youths should do away with drug. It has an element that when you start it, you won’t want to leave it. Tramadol is addictive and dangerous to the health.

“Also, on the border communities, they need serious sensitisation, they are innocent people but smugglers are using them and since i joined Customs, I have never come across a smugglers I have only come across a carrier or a crosser so, smugglers use communities because of their ignorance, many of them don’t know what they are carrying.

“The border communities also believe that smuggling is their birth right, they never see it as a crime so, the FG should enlighten the border community people,” he said.