NEWLY appointed Customs Controllers Issue Fresh Threat To Smugglers

Abiola Seun |

The newly appointed acting Customs Area Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Deputy Comptroller Biri Usman Yahaya has vowed to increase the onslaught against smugglers with seizure and arrest of suspected perpetrators.

Yahaya who said this yesterday after taking over from his Compt. Aliyu Mohammed , said smugglers are enemies of the people and country as their prohibited wares are capable of injuring the health, and well being of Nigerians as well as the national economy.

”We shall redouble our efforts within the ambit of the law to make the entire South West uncomfortable for smugglers, duty evaders and everyone who warehouses smuggled items. The Controller General of Customs is unrelenting in the battle against smuggling and we will remain committed to enforce the law without compromise

Yahaya who was , until his recent appointment, the Commander of the Strike Force in Zone A, said the force seized smuggled items worth over N7 billion between 14 May and 27 December, 2019.

The Strike Force, he added, made use of intelligence gathering and surveillance to put the activities of the smugglers in check.

“As you can see, besides the enormous volume of rice seizures and other offensive items such as imported vegetable oil, imported frozen poultry products, second hand clothing and others, our effort at intercepting unregistered and hard drugs is yielding tremendous results. For instance, just between 14 and 15 July, 2019, the CGC Strike force Zone A intercepted two trailer loads of unregistered drugs with a Duty Paid Value of N310,600,000.

“You are well aware of the danger and harm posed to human health by the consumption of these unregistered drugs trafficked by unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals,” he said.

Yahaya further disclosed that his men in their unrelenting effort intercepted 157 packages of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp with DPV N13, 360,000.

He noted that the growing incidence of heart failure, kidney failure, mental illness, suicide and upsurge in criminality are part of the dangers associated with consumption of fake drugs and hard drugs.

According to Yahaya, items seized in the last seven month include rice worth of N285,007,135, vegetable oil worth of M52,209,612, frozen poultry products valued N61,829,670 and bales of second hand clothing worth of N5,400,600.

Other items seized are used vehicles valued N121, 908, 500, HD televisions valued N101,530,000, plastic containers worth N30,600,000, Indian Hemp worth N13,600,000, three trailers loads of unregistered drugs worth N310,600,000. Another set of banned drugs worth N574,238,000, generators valued N9,200,000, Mack trucks which contained drugs worth N484,500,000, Evacuated drugs valued N5,000,000 and PMS worth N36,250.