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From Olanrewaju Lawal,Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigeria’s Customs Service(NCS) has intercepted prohibited goods worth the sum of N 61.60 million, generated N38,198,068.9 for the month of August and raised the alarm over continuous linking of information about it officers movement to the smugglers in the state.
Controller of the Command,Comptroller Joseph O. Attah stated this while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He explained that: “the month of August was quite eventful and revealing. The Command heightened its anti-smuggling offensive against smugglers as well as engaged in strategic meetings with traditional, political and youth leaders with a view to gaining mutual understanding and compliance.
While anti-smuggling operations resulted in seizures and arrest, stakeholder engagements resulted in some modest achievements in revenue generation. Enforcement activities resulted in the following seizures:389 Wraps of Cannabis Sativa (Laptop sized) PMS:824 Jerrycans (25 liters each) amounting to 20,600 Liters.
“The command also seized foreign Fertilizer: 75 bags of fertilizer (23 bags of 50kg and 52 bags of 25kg, respectively). Also, 22 bags of parboiled foreign Rice(50kg each). 128 bales of second hand Clothes. 22 Jerry cans of vegetable oil,25 liters each. One used Toyota Corolla ,54 bags of Sugar (50kg each)and 8 out boat Engine Local Canoes.
“All with a total duty paid value of N 61,559,568.09. One suspect was arrested and later granted administrative bail”, he said.
Attah who disclosed that, the revenue generated in the month of August stood at N 38,198,068.9, said the most challenge faced by his officers was the continuous linking of information about the movement of anti smugglers patrol teams to the smugglers by the residents of the communities.
According to him, “the emerging challenges of anti-smuggling operatives are facing in this Command is that of people signaling to smugglers. Our intelligence revealed that many youths are turning to informing smugglers about movement of officers to evade arrest as means of livelihood.
“This action is in violation of Section 77 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN. 2004, which prescribes two (2) years imprisonment and forfeiture of apparatus used in passing or signaling such information.
” Such unpatriotic act sabotages and tries to frustrate officers’ efforts to effectively police and interdict improper bringing or taking out of items that might affect National Economy and Security. Tankfully, interventions of some traditional rulers and other opinion leaders, arising from our sensitization efforts are beginning to yield positive results”, he said.
