Customs seize smuggled goods worth N70 million in Kebbi

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and operatives of Operation Whirl Wind Zone B have impounded illegal goods worth N14.792 million and N55.729 million respectively in June.

Comptroller of Customs, Kebbi State Command, Iheanacho Ernest Ejike, while briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, disclosed that items seized included Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), foreign spaghetti, second-hand clothing, Diclofenac tablets BP 50mg, and vegetable oil.

According to him, “Our officers are not giving the smugglers breathing space here in Kebbi. It may interest you that in June, due to our anti-smuggling campaign, we seized 11,650 litres of PMS, 40 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 50 bales of second-hand clothing, 28 cartons of Diclofenac tablets BP 50mg, and 10 jerrycans of vegetable oil.”

“The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seized items is N14,792,429. It would interest you to know that the market value of the seized PMS, which will be auctioned to the public, is N8,178,183 and will be paid to the coffers of the federal government.”

Ejike added that the Command, in June, also generated revenue of N25,847,612, which showed a 67% increase compared to May.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirl Wind, Comptroller Hussain Kehinde Ejibunu, while addressing newsmen at the Kebbi Area Command of the NCS in Birnin Kebbi, disclosed that operatives seized jerrycans and drums of PMS with a duty value of N55,729,500.

Ejibunu, who confirmed that no arrests were made, said that the seized items were impounded from Kamba, Bagudo waterside, Birnin Kebbi, and the Samaya area.

He said: “Today, we have another seizure of 661 kegs of PMS, with some containing 30 and 40 litres of the product each. We also seized another 15 drums of PMS, with each drum containing 200 litres each, which translates into 79,500 litres of PMS with a DPV of N55,729,500.”

“The interception was made across Kebbi and Sokoto states. One filling station was also sealed off and handed over to the regulatory agency, NMDPRA, for further investigation.”

“It is worthy to note that the operatives are in daily contact with our control room in Abuja, which is being manned by NCS officers and NMDPRA staff. The daily truck out to every location in the country is monitored to ensure compliance with the regulatory authority’s rules on trucking, discharging, and even dispensing the product, so that issues of diversion are equally tackled by the operatives.”

He advised members of the cartels to rethink their activities and engage in legitimate businesses, stressing that Operation Whirl Wind would not spare those sabotaging the Nigerian economy.

“We want to inform members of the general public that the operation has already disrupted and dismantled the network of cartels/smugglers of PMS nationwide, as the operation is taking place simultaneously across our national borders.”