The newly appointed Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Comptroller Bishir Abdullahi Balogun, has vowed to intensify the fight against smuggling, revenue leakages, and other illicit trade activities in the South-East region.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by stakeholders from the Tinapa Free Trade Zone at the unit’s headquarters in Owerri last Wednesday, Balogun reiterated his commitment to suppressing smuggling and enhancing revenue generation. He commended the visitors for their contributions to national revenue and urged them to remain compliant with trade regulations.
Balogun described smuggling as an act of economic sabotage, particularly when it involves the importation of prohibited goods that compete with locally produced items. He emphasized that such practices undermine the government’s efforts to revitalize local industries and create employment opportunities.
The customs chief advised importers and exporters to familiarize themselves with the country’s import regulations to avoid running afoul of the law. He also highlighted the growing concerns over the smuggling of small arms and light weapons, stressing that customs would continue to collaborate with security agencies to prevent illegal arms trafficking.
In addition, Balogun noted that the service was actively combating the illegal importation of drugs such as tramadol and cannabis sativa, which pose serious risks to public health, particularly among young people. He assured that intelligence-driven strategies were in place to track down those engaged in the illicit drug trade.
Reaffirming his commitment to the mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi, Balogun stated that the unit would enhance enforcement operations, plug revenue leakages, and facilitate legitimate trade. He urged officers under his command to maintain discipline and intensify their efforts to meet the service’s expectations.
According to him, operational strategies would be continuously reviewed to stay ahead of smugglers engaged in concealment, false declaration, duty evasion, and illegal importation of restricted items.
“As we battle smugglers, our eagle eyes will not overlook duty evasion. We are constantly encouraged by the manpower and logistics provided by the Comptroller General,” he said.
Balogun further warned that the unit’s 24-hour patrol operations had been strengthened to improve efficiency. He pledged that increased seizures, recoveries, and arrests would serve as a deterrent to smugglers and duty evaders, ensuring strict enforcement of the Nigeria Customs Act 2023.
He called on stakeholders to collaborate with the customs service in protecting the national economy through lawful trade practices, stating that violators of customs regulations would face stiff penalties.