Nigeria Customs Service Ogun 1 Area Command Idiroko, has recorded milestone in efforts to rid the country of importation of banned items
In its review of operations in April 2021, the Command said the cumulative duty paid value (DPV) for all the seizures in the month in review amounted to One Hundred and eighty nine million, nine hundred and twenty three thousand, two hundred and ninety three naira only (N 189,923,293.00)
The Command has been able to sustain its achievements in the area of anti-smuggling activities by recording another seizure of over 7,000 bags/50kg each of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent of 12 trailer loads).
It is important to note the catastrophic damage this quantity of rice will cause to the Federal Government Rice Agricultural Policy if allowed to get into the Nigerian markets.
Several other contraband goods were also arrested in various quantities ie frozen poultry products, Cannabis sativa (marijuana), Vehicles used as means of conveyance, used clothing and shoes, used Tyres, Sugar, Tomatoes in retail form, Body creams and Petroleum products (PMS) made for export.
The Federal Government of Nigeria’s directive on border closure is still subsisting as such there is no revenue generated from imports and exports activities.
However, a total sum Two hundred and twenty five thousand naira Zero kobo only (N 225,000.00) was generated from the auction sales of seized petroleum products and scrap metals in the Command.
The Command restated that its intelligence network is still very strong as it has deployed intelligence in virtually all its operations in the area and greater successes are continuously being recorded on daily basis.
It warned the criminal elements in the state that in whichever way and methods they plan their smuggling activities; the Command will definitely uncover it, make arrest and inflict gross financial injury on such perpetuators”
Hybrid News Nigeria recalled that during the March, 2021 press briefing, the Command disclosed that some facilities of multi-national companies operating in Ogun State like Coca –Cola Company were being used to smuggle contraband goods into the country.
Also a few days ago, another articulated truck bearing the inscription and logo of DANGOTE CEMENT CO LTD was intercepted along Ijoun border axis loaded with over six hundred (600) bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice heading to the eastern part of the country. Three people were arrested including the driver of the vehicle and investigation is going to unravel those behind this act of massive smuggling activity.
Recently, the Commands patrol officers came under severe attack from the daredevil smugglers, hoodlums and their sympathizers using pump action riffles, AK 47 riffles, Den-guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons at Oja –Odan in Yewa Southern part of Ogun State in which some command officers sustain gunshot injuries.
The attack was successfully repelled and over three Hundred (300) bags of foreign parboiled rice was seized in that operation.