Western Marine command reiterates need for physical distancing …. makes N8.2m contrabands seizure

Segun Oladipupo

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday, appealed to officers and men on 24 hours patrol at sea to maintain physical distancing in the face of COVID19 pandemic.

Customs Area Controller in charge of the marine command, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, gave the charge while briefing newsmen on seizures by the command, saying the operatives had to strategize to make the seizures.

He said “We should emphasise more on physical distancing as social distancing is an understatement.

“The spread of COVID19 is real and that is why I always emphasize on what our medical personnel have instructed for us to wash our hands regularly with soap alongside sanitizer.

“My officers have been warned about the COVID19 pandemic by ensuring that they maintain physical distancing.”

Comptroller Peters reiterated the commitment and determination of officers and men of the command toward making the waterways unbearable or “No go area ” for smugglers especially at a time criminals would want to take advantage of the lockdown and stay at home order to ship in un-customs goods into the country.

He also warned daredevil smugglers to find another means of livelihood adding that “No matter their antics, they will meet their waterloo

Highlighting the seizures recorded, he noted that a total of 342 bags of foreign parboiled rice were intercepted with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N7,558,200.00.

Other items impounded by the command include 30 large sacks Premium Motor Spirit PMS with HS Code of 6310 with each containing about 150 litres, totalling 4,500 litres.

The customs boss also said five bales of fabrics materials with DPV of N550,000.00 and second hand clothing materials of N168,000 were confiscated over the weekend.

According to him, the total DPV of the seizure stood at N8,276,200.00, even as he added that the items were intercepted along Ere, Ekere, Yekeme and Badagry axis of the Western waterways, pointing out the feat was achieved as a result of intelligence gathering , surveillance and 24 hours patrol of the waterways by operatives of the command.

Editing by ‘Biodun Soyele