Seme Customs seeks public cooperation to tackle smuggling

 

 

Chinazor Megbolu    |  

 

The Seme Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is seeking the cooperation of members of the public towards tackling the nefarious acts of smugglers in the country.

 

The Command, in its mid-year press statement issued by the Command Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi, said the plea is necessary because if the menace of smuggling must stop, then there’s need for the host communities to assist.

 

“I wish to call on the public to cooperate with the service to succeed in its anti-smuggling crusades and refrain from unnecessary hostilities when officers are performing their lawful duties,” the statement said. 

 

He also counselled them to take advantage of various federal government intervention programmes and key into them for a legitimate means of livelihood instead of smuggling.

 

However, the Command further hinted that they made 824 seizures with total value of N413.3 miilion and contributed N22.48 million into federation account as revenue between January to June 2020.

 

Abdullahi also noted that the revenue figure, according to him, were proceeds realised from auction sales of seized perishables items, that forms part of customs and excise management act provision.

 

The Acting Area Controller of the Command, Mr. Dalha Cheidi Wada disclosed in the statement that the Command has intensified its anti smuggling activities while strengthening inter agency partnership in the national interest.

The seizures, according to the statement, is made up of 79 vehicles and other items in the import prohibition list, which includes; trade goods being brought into Nigeria in defiance to extant rules.

 

The statement further showed that the seizures indicates 3,236 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice; 136,350 litres of Premium Motor Spirit; 79 Unit of Vehicles, used and means of conveyance for smuggled items; 1,302 cartons of frozen poultry products, 156 parcels of cannabis sativa, 156 jerry cans of vegetable oil (25litres each) 7,763 general merchandise items.

 

“Recall that Nigeria government had in August, 20th 2019, closed its land borders, placing temporary embargo on the movement of goods through the land borders nationwide to curb rice smuggling, increasing insecurity across the country.

 

“The successes recorded are as a result of designed and implemented strategies adopted since assumption of office as Ag. Area Controller, and renewed synergy between different components of anti-smuggling units.

 

“It also assisted the Command in forming a formidable force that help to counter the activities of smugglers within nooks and crannies of Seme Command,” Wada said